Making the Ultimate Salad

Tossing a salad is a work of art for some people. There are so many variations, styles, toppings, dressings, etc. It's hard to make a salad unhealthy, but it never hurts to have the directions for The Ultimate Salad. That's right, this 620-calorie beast of a meal includes everything needed to turn a normal salad into a nutritional work of art.

Starting with spinach and broccoli, you'll want to add these for a kick of folate and potassium. Not really foreign to any ordinary salad, but what about red kidney beans and yellow bell peppers? The beans are packed with antioxidants and fiber, while the peppers boast vitamin C.

Extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar contribute monounsaturated fat to the mix. This duo can also help boost vascular functioning. The list goes on (flaxseed and almonds anyone?). If you're a salad person and would like to know the nitty gritty on the ultimate salad, read on for nutritional info and benefits of each element.