The Perfect Green Salad in 5 Easy Steps

Healthy Snack Food: The Perfect Green Salad in 4 Easy Steps

I’m known by many to be something of a gourmand and snack food pioneer. Potato chips and candy are all out. If you’re looking for snacks that will boost your energy with lean protein without filling you with unnecessary sugar, my wood-smoked meat snacks are the way to go. In past posts, I’ve shared my gastronomical knowledge by offering a few favorite pairings for each of my beef jerky flavors. Today, I’d like to expand your culinary boundaries further by offering my four steps to the perfect green salad. Yes, I know, this is an unusual turn for me. I’m a multifaceted being. Step four is where I’ll make a believer of you.

1. Gather Your Green Salad Ingredients

As is always the case, fresh is best, and if you can afford it, go organic. I prefer to use green leaf lettuce as a base with a bit of red cabbage mixed in for some color variety. Then pick a nice cucumber and one large tomato. But here’s the really fun part: there’s no wrong way to make a green salad, so if you have other favorite veggies, go crazy! Plus, veggies on their own make a good snack food; feel free to pop a few pieces of lettuce or tomato in your mouth as you go.

2. Wash, Chop, and Mix Your Veggies

Since your ingredients are raw, it’s especially important to pay attention to the washing process. Make sure your veggies are completely clean of all dirt and debris, and then chop them all into small pieces. Combine all your washed and chopped veggies into a large bowl, and use tongs (or your bare hands) to thoroughly mix your salad. You’re almost done—and I’m sure by now, you’re quite hungry. Well, don’t worry: there’s just one more crucial step standing between you and your hard-won healthy snack food.

3. Throw That “Snack Food” in the Garbage

That’s right. Find the nearest trash can and throw that salad away. Immediately. Who were we kidding? Salads aren’t a snack; they’re a slogging ordeal to a bitter, unsatisfying end. And after all the time you’ve spent gathering your ingredients and making this salad, there’s no way you’ll be able to satisfy your hunger on a bunch of leaves. It was a nice thought. But I think we both know where this is going.

4. Or: Top With Beef Jerky

Alright, maybe throwing away your entire salad was a little hasty. I’ll admit that even my judgment suffers a bit when my stomach is empty. After all, veggies are an important backdrop for your favorite meat snacks, like a blank canvas for you to paint a beautiful meat masterpiece. So, since you’ve already gone and made a whole salad, why not top it with your favorite package of Old Trapper beef jerky? Preferably, a whole bag of it.

I recommend my peppered beef jerky or kippered steak for that hearty meat flavor. Throw a handful on top if you’re too hungry to wait, or try chopping the jerky into smaller pieces to mix in with the rest of the salad. If you’re feeling adventurous, toss in some roasted chickpeas or even crumbled bacon for an extra savory kick. And don’t forget the cheese—shredded cheddar, crumbled feta, or shaved Parmesan can take your salad from good to unforgettable.

Lastly, try a hearty salad dressing flavor, like Ranch or a BBQ vinaigrette, and transform a boring bowl of basically-just-grass into an explosion of smoky, meaty, healthy flavor. Now, that’s what I call snack food.

Snack Smart with Beef Jerky

There you have it, my friends. The perfect green salad is the one you never eat—or the one that you absolutely cover in meat snacks. Now, I acknowledge that every healthy diet needs a vegetable or two every few months. As long as you pair them with beef jerky, you can even enjoy the experience. Plus, the best part about beef jerky? It’s totally versatile. Looking for a candy alternative? Try smoky-sweet teriyaki jerky. Yearning for spicy chips? My hot ‘n spicy beef jerky will slake your craving. And the best part is, it’s got the protein you need to keep going on all your adventures. So give in to your inner carnivore and feast on some Old Trapper Beef Jerky today.