To some, adding fruit to a salad may seem inherently wrong in comparison to the image of a classic salad. We’ve all seen classic fruit salads, but those sweet desserts are completely different from tossed salads with fruits on top. If you’re a skeptic, take a chance on these recipes. Fruit brings a whole new dimension to an otherwise generic salad. Not only does it taste amazing, it’s super healthy and easy to incorporate. Simply start with a base of any green of your choosing and add whatever fruit you want. Then add more ingredients like dressing, cheese, protein, and nuts, and voilà: you have a delicious salad. And it’s not just a summer recipe. You can make fruit salads all year long with seasonal fruit.

The idea may not be new, but there are always new and interesting recipes you can make when you add meat to your salad. Meat turns a salad from a light side dish into a fulfilling meal. There are plenty of types of meat to choose between, from poultry to red meat to seafood, and you can add them cold or warm recipes. There are tons of fantastic recipes to try. If you’re wanting a heartier salad than your usual light appetizer, adding meat will satisfy even the biggest appetites.

Chickpeas are an incredibly versatile legume that can be eaten on its own, in hummus, in soups, and-most importantly-in salads. If you’re looking for a low-cost alternative to poultry and meat as a source of protein, chickpeas are the perfect option. They can be roasted or drained and rinsed from the can and added to your salad recipe of choice to bulk it up.

Similar to chickpeas, quinoa is a great substitute for meat to add protein to your salad. If you buy it uncooked, simply prepare it by simmering it in water like you would with rice. You can also buy it pre-cooked, making it a great quick ingredient.

Dressing can make or break a salad. Even though the most important part of the salad is, of course, its contents, adding a dressing that finds a balance between overwhelming and underwhelming is half the battle. While it may be tempting to just go with the tried and true favorites, try giving new dressings a shot. Find dressings that enhance the various ingredients of your salad, whether they’re on the more basic side like vinaigrette or something more complicated. Many dressings can also add to the health value of the dish. Dressings made with monounsaturated fats help with absorption of nutrients, making eating a salad for lunch an even healthier choice. You have tons of recipes to choose from, and now-a-days you have the option of buying them from the store or whipping up a dressing yourself at home.