Simple Side Salad

We are trying very hard to eat a more healthy diet...without giving up the food we love.   After John's heart attack, the diet recommendations were to limit fat, sugar, etc.  As summer approaches I wanted to experiment with some side salads that would be a bit healthier than the side salads I always purchased at the grocery store deli.   I love a good macaroni or potato salad - our deli has a great red potato salad - but I realized that the macaroni was not whole wheat, the diet suggestions say to veer toward sweet potatoes instead of white, and I felt the mayonnaise used in the store bought salads were filled with fat, salt, and preservatives. So, I am on a quest this summer to make side salads for our burgers ( no more beef...turkey and maybe impossible), chicken, and salmon on the grill!

Here is what I came up with today to accompany our pulled chicken barbecue sandwich.  I purchased the sandwich filling at Aldi...feeling the chicken was a better choice than the pork.  In the future I plan on making my own version with sugar free barbecue sauce and skinless chicken - but we had this in the freezer and it was enough for lunch. So...In my last shopping trip I purchased this cole slaw mix - 

It was called "broccoli slaw" and is a combination of shredded broccoli stalks, red cabbage, and shredded carrots.  I chopped one small Gala apple into bite size pieces, and added some low sugar "Craisins"...and added enough slaw mix for two into a bowl.

Then I put one tablespoon of Duke's LIGHT may in a measuring cup and added a dash of salt, pepper, a pinch of sugar, and a little pickle juice - and mixed that up.

I poured that over the slaw/fruit mixture, tossed it together, and put it in the refrigerator to chill for a few minutes while I heated up the chicken.  I also spread the buns - and I use Schmidt's 647 buns- (they have more fiber and less calories) with Benecol Light Spread

and put the buns on the grill for a few minutes.

Served the sandwiches with the salad, some pickles, and a few BAKED potato chips...

And took it all outside to enjoy on our screen porch on a beautiful May day!

Do you have any recipes for healthy side salads ?  Please share!  And leave a comment below - it makes me so happy!  Thanks for stopping by Our New Vista!