How to make harvest salad

This recipe for a Harvest Salad is both festive and dietitian-approved.
By Nicole Barragan, Transplant Dietitian
Nutrition plays an important role in the pre- and post-transplant phases. After surgery, the initial focus is on nutrition for healing. As time goes on, the focus shifts to maintaining good nutrition status, as well as preventing food-borne illness and excessive weight gain.Your dietitian is a great resource when you have questions about your child’s nutrition. These tips below are also very helpful:

  • Be mindful of portion sizes and use MyPlate as your guide. Visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov for helpful resources.
  • Eat more fruits and vegetables: see below for a great tasting, healthy recipe!
  • Choose lean protein sources (95% fat-free or leaner) and low-fat dairy. When cooking lean protein foods, try baking, broiling, grilling, barbecuing or steaming, instead of frying.
  • Try whole grains like brown rice, popcorn and whole wheat bread.

Remember, every person has different nutrition needs after a transplant. Your dietitian will work with you in the hospital and in clinic to provide recommendations, help you plan menus, teach you more about nutrition and answer questions.

Harvest Salad Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of Romaine lettuce/spinach
  • 2 apples (green or red) or pears or 1 ½ cup strawberries
  • orange or lemon juice
  • ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
  • ½ cup pecans or pistachios or walnuts (optional)
  • 3 oz. grilled chicken (optional); cook to internal temperature of 165° F

Directions

  • Wash lettuce well and then dry.
  • Wash and cut apples into slices or chunks. Coat apples with orange or lemon juice.
  • Mix salad greens with apples, cranberries and other ingredients (optional).
  • Dress salad with small amount (about 2 Tbsp/2 cups of salad) of preferred dressing. Balsamic vinaigrette goes well with this salad!

Note: This salad typically contains blue cheese, but blue cheese or any “soft cheese” may not be pasteurized and is therefore not allowed for those who have received a solid organ transplant. Always check if cheese is pasteurized before eating, or try hard, processed cheddar cheese with this salad.