Healthy Orange Thai Chicken Salad

The ingredients of many salads start out healthy but then the toppings and dressings can wreak havoc on the nutritional profile. But this salad is loaded with salad greens and topped with lean chicken breasts, vitamin C-rich mandarin oranges, veggies and a sprinkling of nuts, which contain heart-healthy fat. The dressing contains only a teaspoon of oil and gets its creaminess from peanut butter mixed with fresh lime juice, soy sauce, vinegar and honey. That makes it low calorie, low in saturated fat and relatively low sodium. To reduce sodium more, use low-sodium soy sauce or tamari. This is also a gluten free chicken recipe, as long as those condiments are labeled as gluten–free.

Heart healthy salads like this one filled with chicken, fruit and veggies can stand on their own. But if you want to serve something alongside it or are looking for a healthy, sweet treat to end your meal, give one of these a try:

• Carrot Nut Muffins
• Zucchini Bread
• Veggie Crisps

Chicken is a great addition to any salad and is a great way to use up leftover chicken. Try one of these leftover chicken recipes the next time you’re looking for a fresh way to use up that extra chicken:

• Cobb Salad
• Chicken and Quinoa Buddha Bowl
• Roasted Chicken and Spinach Salad