DRESSING INGREDIENTS
½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 Teaspoon Monk Fruit Sweetener
Himalayan Salt and Cracked Pepper to Taste
SALAD INGREDIENTS
3 Romaine Hearts Chopped into Bitesize Pieces
½ Cup Sliced Red Onion
1 Apple (Preferably Honey Crisp) Chopped into Bitesize Pieces
½ Cup – ¾ Cup Blue Cheese Crumbles
½ Cup Pinenuts Toasted
ASSEMBLY
- In a small mixing bowl make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, balsamic, dijon, monk fruit, salt and pepper.
- In a large salad bowl add the romaine, onions, half the amount of apples, half the amount of pinenuts, and half the amount of blue cheese.
- Pour in the dressing and coat entire salad well.
- Top with remaining apples, blue cheese and pinenuts.
- Serve.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Cracked Pepper: Increases the hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach, which helps improve digestion.
Balsamic Vinegar: Contains antioxidants that help repair damage caused by free radicals. Balsamic vinegar contains polyphenols which protects the body from heart disease and cancer.
Red Onion: Contain quercetin, which is a polyphenol compound that acts as an antioxidant. Quercetin is beneficial for scavenging free radicals in the body.
Olive Oil: High in brain protecting antioxidants, excellent source of vitamins E and K, contains brain boosting chemicals (BDNF and NGF) that encourage the formation and repair of brain cells, and helps the brain to fight cognitive decline.
Pinenuts: Great for weight management. Pinenuts contain pinoleic acid that stimulate the intestines to produce CCK which signals the brain to turn off the “Hungry Mode”.
Monk Fruit Sweetener: Is an extract derived from dried monk fruit that is up to 250 times sweeter than table sugar, has zero calories and carbs and does not raise blood glucose levels.
Himalayan Salt: One of the cleanest salts you can find. As opposed to conventional table salt that is heavily processed which removes its beneficial minerals.