Need a Break from Lettuce?

For the novice stepping into a healthier eating pattern, eagerly embracing green salads as a main player can eventually get old.

Smoothies incorporating all that wonderful green stuff can be a great, easy choice for variety, but it's important to remember that the leafy greens don't always have to be present.

I was excited to sample the Greek salad over at Pantuso's Restiorante, a local spot, last week. It was a luscious combination of chunks of fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions, sprinkled with feta cheese with kalamatra olives. Probably some sea salt was added to draw out the juices. It was absolutely scrumptious.

That combo could easily be made ahead and stored in the fridge to either eat by itself, orbe added to some cold penne pasta and some spinach leaves for an evening entrée.

It's my belief that the healthiest offerings are a matter of simply combining good foods. No need to master sauces; just come to know and love fresh herbs.

Despite rising food prices, with a little planning, healthy eating is more affordable than you may think!