This week’s summer meal is inspired by seasonal produce: corn + romaine lettuce + tomatoes. Pick this produce up at your local farmer’s market or look for locally sourced options at your grocer.
Buying local and fresh is the best option if you want to get the most nutrition out of your produce. When you buy local, you are getting fruit and veggies that have been picked at their peak ripeness since local produce doesn’t need to be shipped far. Also fresh, to go along with this garden salad, I’m sharing a homemade dressing made with simple ingredients. I very rarely buy store-bought dressings since most of them contain unnecessary added sugar and processed oils. The best oil choice for salads is cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, it’s the least processed oil and has heart healthy fat called oleic acid. Look for quality brands packaged in glass or tins to get the freshest, purest forms. My favorite is Colavita. Now let’s make this delicious salad. 
To properly prep this salad, cook the corn and any optional meat choices (I recommend grilled chicken or shrimp) the night before or morning of so that you have time to cool it down for your salad. When your ready to eat your salad, you’ll chop up some lettuce + tomatoes + avocado + corn and mix the dressing with a whisk or blender.
Ingredients for 2 Salads
1 bunch of Romaine, Mixed greens or Boston Lettuce, loosely chopped
1 tomato, diced
1 fresh corn, cut up
1 ripe avocado, cut up
1/2 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 servings of grilled chicken or grilled shrimp (optional)
Directions
Add all ingredients to a medium bowl, toss, and set aside
Citrus Dressing Recipe
Makes enough for 2 salads
1 orange, juice of
1/2 lemon, juice of
1 teaspoon of honey
1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon of djon mustard
Directions
Mix all dressing ingredients in a blender or with a whisk, pour over your salad, toss and serve.
For more info on what’s in season near you, here is a great seasonal foods resource: Seasonal Food Guide
