Farro Salad – A Great Start to Eating Healthier

Italian Villa Restaurant | Allen, Tx - Italian Villa Restaurant | Allen, Tx -

Hearty Detox Farro Salad

Deborah Mele’s Salad

Positive change is a good thing for all of us, however setting resolutions at the beginning of each year can sometimes feel like setting yourself up for failure. Many of us set ambitious goals reflecting our desire to become healthier, more affluent, or to encourage some form of personal growth, but often, after a relatively short period of time, we feel discouraged and overwhelmed by our new choices only to slide back into old habits before giving up altogether.

More success may be seen if one goal is focused on at a time, to begin with. Once you’ve enjoyed success achieving that one goal, you will be more likely to expand your goals to encompass more aspects of your life and overall well being. Becoming healthier will have positive effects across many areas of your life, so is a really good place to start. Even so, gradual modification is the best approach for making adjustments to your eating habits that will eventually be permanent.

Within that one goal of “becoming healthier,” you can address various components of that goal. For instance, set an achievable fitness goal, like taking a walk twice a week. Easily achievable, this goal will lead you further, perhaps increasing the number of walks or adding some other exercise regimen you enjoy. In addition, set nutrition goals, like cutting down or eliminating sugar from your diet, or eating vegan 3 times a week. Whatever adjustments you make to what or how you eat each day will set you on the path to healthier living that you can expand upon over time.

Photo by Mark Morgan Trinidad B

Eliminating destructive behaviors like smoking is an ongoing resolution observed by many, but addictive habits should be addressed separately. Trying to give up an addictive habit unsuccessfully can derail anything else you’re trying to change. Resolve instead to address the issue this year, then research what means you would like to try as there are several, then  set that plan into motion. Keeping this separate will protect your other goals and keep you motivated. Achieving those other goals may actually help you with the bigger resolutions by keeping you focused on success.

Here is a great recipe from Deborah Mele’s recipe blog of a filling, detoxifying salad filled with grains and vegetables. Make a batch at the beginning of the week and enjoy it for lunch or with dinner. Adding cooked grains and legumes will boost your salad’s nutritional value with the extra fiber and protein, while leaving you feeling satisfied for hours.

A favorite grain is Farro, a complex carbohydrate with a delicious nutty flavor – high in fiber, magnesium, and vitamins A, B, C, and E. Farro is also rich in cyanogenic glucosides which stimulate the immune system, regulate blood sugar levels, and decrease cholesterol. Containing more protein than some other grains, farro also has lignans, which give it antioxidant properties. If you’re not fond of farro however, you may use whatever grains you prefer.

Whole grains stay in your system longer as they take longer to digest. As a result, you will feel full longer as well as have more sustained energy.

Photo by ramnath bhat

Add chopped cucumbers, pomegranate arils, celery, green onions, and cherry tomatoes to your cooked farro and add a combination of fresh herbs, chopped and blended into your salad. As an entree, add grilled chicken or fish, or to keep it vegan, add drained chickpeas. Garnish with toasted walnuts, pistachios, or almonds.

This flavorful, crunchy, and satisfying salad will keep well for a couple of days in the fridge. Have a vinaigrette dressing of apple cider vinegar, tahini, olive oil, and lemon on hand to maximize your detoxifying potential.

A great first step, trying new, healthier recipes, will engage you in the effort to improve your diet regimen and help you achieve some success you can build upon. Most important, don’t allow yourself to become discouraged or overwhelmed. Regulate your steps so that you’re not taking on an unrealistic set of goals. You’ll find greater success by approaching your goals with baby steps, no more than you can guarantee to yourself can be maintained over time. Before you know it, you’ll be living better and looking for a new goal!

Start here, with this salad recipe. Its benefits may surprise you!

Hearty Detox Farro Salad Recipe

From Deborah Mele

 

Yield: Serves 4 – 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

Salad Ingredients:

• 1 C Uncooked Farro
• 2 Cs Cherry Tomatoes, Quartered
• 2 Cs Cucumbers, Chopped
• 3 Celery Stalks, Chopped
• 6 Green Onions, Chopped
• 1 1/2 Cs Pomegranate Arils
• 1/2 C Chopped Fresh Parsley
• 1/2 C Chopped Fresh Basil
• 1/2 C Chopped Fresh Mint

Dressing:

• 2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
• 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 3 Tbsp Tahini
• 1/3 C Extra-virgin Olive Oil
• Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper To Taste

Directions:

1. Rinse the farro thoroughly and add to a medium saucepan along with three cups of water.
2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender, then drain and set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the cooled farro, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, onions, pomegranate arils, and fresh herbs.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients then pour over the salad.
5. Toss to coat, taste, and adjust seasonings as needed.

 

 

This post Farro Salad – A Great Start to Eating Healthier was authored by site.dev2

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