When patients come to Whitaker Wellness for our flagship Back to Health Program, we swap out dangerous prescription drugs for natural supplements, treat specific medical problems with our remarkable healing therapies, and teach the importance of physical activity and nutrition for maintaining optimal well-being. We also help folks adopt lifestyle modifications and provide the necessary support to stick with their new exercise and diet regimens after they return home.
What surprises a lot of people is just how delicious and fulfilling eating healthy foods can be. It’s true, food can be “medicine,” and fueling our bodies with fresh produce, lean protein, unprocessed oils, and other healthy items goes a long way toward promoting health and wellness.
Gourmet chef Idel Kelly has been preparing meals at the Whitaker Wellness Institute for 30 years. She recently created a handful of savory summer salads, and I’d like to share two of these delicious and healthy dishes with you.
Scrumptious Salmon Salad
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4-5 ounces salmon (wild-caught preferred)
½ bell pepper, sliced
½ onion, sliced
Dash salt and pepper
2 cups lettuce, spring mix or romaine, torn into bite-sized pieces
½ tomato, chopped
Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large pan. Add salmon and sauté, about four minutes on each side. Remove from pan, add bell peppers and onion, season with salt and pepper, and sauté 3-4 minutes or until tender-crisp. Cool. Place salmon and vegetable mixture on salad greens. Garnish with chopped tomato.
Roasted Turkey Salad With Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh spinach
4-5 ounces sliced, roasted, all-natural, fully cooked turkey breast
1 cup raw vegetables of your choice (cucumbers, tomato, red cabbage, carrots, etc.), chopped or thinly sliced
¼ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Dash no-salt seasoning blend
Pepper to taste
Directions:
Place spinach in a bowl and add chopped turkey breast, vegetables, and cheese. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, vinegar, and spices and whisk. Pour over salad mixture, toss, and serve immediately.
These savory summer salads can be enjoyed on the patio during the warm months or year-round—any time you are looking for a healthy, light, and tasty meal. I hope you enjoy them as much as our patients do.
