It’s no secret that salads pair perfectly with summertime—they’re cool, colorful, refreshing and filled with nutritious ingredients to fuel all of your sun-soaked adventures! Today, we’re taking a look at the benefits of enjoying salads this summer, as well as a few prep tips and our favorite go-to salads. Read on and dig in.

Salads are filled with fresh ingredients—and H2O

Have you ever wondered what makes a crisp, colorful salad so refreshing on summer days? Salad is usually served cold, of course, but it’s what is inside the salad that counts—namely, plenty of H2O! Lettuce is actually one of the most hydrating foods at a whopping 96 percent water content. Add to that common ingredient mix-ins like tomatoes and cucumbers (which can both be found in our Grilled Salmon Salad), and you’ve got a dish that is thoroughly cool, hydrating and refreshing. Salad’s hydrating properties can be enjoyed all year-round, of course, but they pair perfectly with hot summer days spent outdoors!

They make for breezy entertaining…

Salads also work perfectly when you’re feeding a crowd of family and friends, which is another reason why they work perfectly for summertime—they make entertaining easy! You don’t need to shy away from hosting an impromptu dinner party or backyard picnic when you can simply toss together fresh greens and other mix-ins for a satisfying meal.

… and provide a fun way to mix things up

Virtually any ingredient can be mixed into a bright summer salad, making this dish a delicious go-to for testing out all your fresh produce! On long, hot days, it can be easy to fall into the same routine, but salads keep at-home foodies on their toes, inviting them to try out a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors in pursuit of the perfect medley.

Tips for getting more out of your summer salads

Serving up salad at home or on-the-go? Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind…

• When packing salad into the next day’s lunch, a jar is a handy way to store the greens and produce mix-ins. Store the dressing separately so that it doesn’t get the lettuce soggy before you’re ready to enjoy, at which time you can simply shake your jar with dressing for a thorough “toss” at lunch, in the break room or at the park.
• Bringing salad along for a picnic, or a day by the pool? Store it in a container and keep it covered in ice alongside your cooler drinks! The result will be a fresh, crisp and cool salad for all.
• Get to know what fruits and veggies are in season so that you can find ways to mix them into your salad! (Here in the Sunshine State, for example, mangos, avocados and watermelon are all at their peak freshness at this time of year.) And don’t be afraid to mix sweet fruit into an otherwise savory salad—it might just be a flavorful fusion you love!

Enjoying crisp, colorful salads at Peach Valley

Don’t forget to enjoy your favorite salads here at Peach Valley! We take care of the tossing so that you can focus on the crisp, refreshing “aah” moment that comes in every bite. We’ve got plenty of delicious salads to choose from.

• Grilled Salmon Salad, a protein-packed option that pairs fresh salmon with hydrating greens, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes
• Summer Salad, a must-have on hot days featuring juicy mandarin oranges, strawberries and blueberries
• Chopped Cobb Salad, a culinary classic with turkey, bacon, eggs and avocado alongside colorful produce for a healthy dose of protein and flavor
• Curry Chicken Salad, featuring curry flavor and bright ingredients like Granny smith apples and red seedless grapes
• Santa Fe Chicken Salad, a bite of the Southwest starring char-grilled, flavorful chicken, pico de gallo and a black bean corn salsa
• Teriyaki Chicken Salad, an Asian-inspired medley of sesame noodles, snow peas, scallions, wonton strips and more

Plus, you can further customize your Peach Valley salad with the addition of char-grilled chicken, or char-grilled or blackened shrimp or salmon, as well as a variety of flavorful dressing options. The end result? A unique salad for every day of your summer adventures!

Whether you stick to your favorite salad or try to enjoy a new one every day, there’s no denying that this colorful dish is perfect for summer! Come enjoy one with us soon.