Basic Math

That's what makes Salad Week so productive, so simple, so...awesome. For today's word problem, let's tackle Jicama Pineapple Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette (as adapted from Bon Appetit Cookbook).

Cilantro Vinaigrette:

3 tablespoons vegetable oil (100 calories/tablespoon x3 tablespoons=300 cal)

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar (3 calories/tablespoon x3 tablespoons=9 cal)

1 small shallot, minced (free)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro (1 calorie)

1/4 tsp cumin (free)

Jicama Pineapple Salad:

1 small Jicama cut matchbook sized (140 calories)

1 1/2 cups cubed pineapple (78 calories/cup x1.5 cups=117 calories)

3 ounces salad greens (15 calories) (Yes, REALLY.)

Combine salad ingredients in large bowl, toss with vinaigrette to taste.

Serves 2 entree portions.

Okay, here comes the math. If you're following at home, that comes to a grand total of 582 calories. Or 291 calories per person. If you use the whole vinaigrette and lick the plate. I used 3/4 of the vinaigrette which takes the total per person down to 254 calories. If you round up. That's what makes Salad Week work. Three ounces of salad greens (do you know how much that is??? You're exhausted from greens before you run out of available food) for 15 calories. A satisfying salad with good flavor, texture, and plenty of calories left over for dessert.* Yum, dessert.

*We have been eating on a roughly 300 calorie breakfast/ 300 calorie lunch/ 500 calorie dinner plan with 2 x200 calorie snacks and 100 calories of dessert daily= 1600 calories. It worked both before we worked out and since we've started exercising regularly. This is referred to in future posts as the 3/3/5 plan.