1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
4-5 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. kosher salt
10-12 grinds fresh pepper

5 oz. box pre-washed spinach
6 oz. box raspberries
6 oz. box blueberries
6 oz. blackberries
1 cup walnuts, whole or chopped

1 chunk of parmesan cheese

This is so easy and very good for lunch or dinner.  Pour balsamic in the serving bowl and whisk in the olive oil until emulsified.  Add salt and pepper, then spinach and berries.  I tend not to wash my raspberries (I am partial to Driscoll’s brand), but do wash the blue and blackberries and pat dry with a paper towel before adding to the salad.  Add walnuts, toss and serve with a chunk of parmesan cheese on the side.  I love to grate big slices on top of the salad.  Serve with good bread or your favorite crackers.  Try the rosemary and olive oil triscuits!  Yum.

Let me know what you think.  I have eaten this salad twice since Thanksgiving – good for a little post holiday detox!

Raspberries, Greek Yogurt, and Walnuts. Yum!

I just had one of my favorite lunches, yogurt with rasperries and walnuts.  I love raspberries and walnuts, but if I was only allowed a few of each I would not be satisfied and this could lead to snacking later.  So, I buy the Driscoll’s raspberries and eat the whole  box with one of my favorite yogurts, Fage (Greek yogurt is so good and thick and rich and it will leave you feeling full, which is a good thing!) and I pile it high with walnuts. Yum!  I love the texture and taste of walnuts, but would not feel satisfied with only a few, so I have found a way to have my walnuts and eat them too! – with low fat plain yogurt and raspberries, which are low in calories, high in fiber, and completely non-fat.  The key is in “making it whole”.  I don’t eat the yogurt out of the container.  Nothing wrong with this, but taking the time to put the yogurt in a pretty bowl and filling  it high with the berries and walnuts gives me the feeling of completeness.

You can use this same principle of “making it whole” with any food that you love.  Maybe you crave potato chips everyday.  Don’t try and deprive yourself, you will only end up overeating them at some point and most likely out of a family size bag!  Give yourself permission to eat whatever you want by incorporating it into a meal.  With potato chips, have them with a lower fat lunch, maybe with chicken salad or tuna salad or even a vegetable salad, just leave off the bread and have your chips.  You will feel whole if you give yourself a whole portion of chips.  If at home, put them in a nice bowl to give yourself some limits.  The cute bowl will add to the specialness of the meal.  If this sounds too cute or like too much work, then go back to sneaking a few chips and feeling deprived which leads to eating the whole bag of chips and more overeating followed by the seemingly endless cycle of “I will start on a diet tomorrow….”