Super Green Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

It's not always easy to eat healthy. Especially when you love to bake cupcakes as much as I do. But luckily, most everyone loves cupcakes, and are happy to accept them on a regular basis. Since I no longer work part-time in a health food store that gives me several servings of incredibly spendy and amazing organic fruits and veggies every day, and we are in the process of finding/building a house and have no garden, it's expensive to eat healthy. Yes, I am aware it's worth it to eat real whole foods, and yes I prefer organic foods and try my best, but when you juice or make smoothies daily it adds up fast.

Until I have my lovely garden next year, I will be at the mercy of my friends with fruit and veggies to spare or trade for cucpakes, and my ability to get to the farmer's market with their odd and variable hours.  Here's a salad I've been loving this summer, and it's easy to whip  up for a lunch on the go.

Super Green Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

-1 cup Spring Mix

-1/2 cup shredded red or green cabbage

-1/3 cup shredded carrot

-1 handful sprouts

-3 slices cucumber, diced

-1 T. olive oil

-1 t. red wine vinegar

-1 t. lime juice

-1 t. lime zest

-pinch salt and pepper and ground basil

Directions Combine all vegetables in a bowl. In a small mixing bowl, combine olive oil, vinegar, zest, salt, basil, pepper and juices and mix to combine. Drizzle over salad before eating. Makes one salad.

Easy and fresh, this is a lovely and healthful lunch. I've also put almonds or a little parmesan cheese on it to spice it up a bit.