People hear the word salad and automatically think it’s healthy. But, that is not the case with every single salad. Some are made with too much cheese, fattening creamy dressings, and loaded up with croutons, these are not the ingredients to put into a salad when trying to eat healthy. Sometimes it might be hard to go out to eat at a restaurant and order a salad that is both flavorful and good for the body but La Bottega in Farmingdale has over 30 different salads to choose from, each containing at least one of the ingredients that are perfect for a health conscious person.
Some of the healthiest salad ingredients are dark leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, beans, fish, avocados, vinaigrette, citrus fruits, mushrooms, and peppers. Each of these ingredients is unique in how they provide for the body.
Dark leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, vinaigrette and citrus fruits are great for preventing a number of different cancers. The beans are a source of protein and can help to suppress tumor growth. Fish, salmon specifically, is rich in B6 and reduces the recurrence of colorectal adenomas, a type of cancer. Avocados are extremely healthy and provide the body with a number of different nutrients. Avocados contain lutein, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene which prevents eye disease and cancer, decrease asthma symptoms, and are good for the bones, skin and immune system. Mushrooms are also great for the immune system and peppers contain a lot of Vitamin A, which plays a role in bone growth, reproduction and immune system health and is important for healthy vision; and Vitamin C which protects against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, and eye disease.
Of all the salads available at La Bottega, more than half of them contain at least one of these healthy ingredients. If you’re in the mood for a salad with seafood, La Bottega has four different salads made with the customer’s choice of shrimp or salmon. The Salmone e Pere salad is made with salmon, spinach, endive, red pears, toasted pecans, roasted beets, cherry tomatoes, and a raspberry vinaigrette, not only does this salad have the healthy fish in it, but it has vinaigrette, spinach, and tomatoes also. Another salad we have that is made with fish, is the Gamberoni e Guacamole salad. It has grilled shrimp, lettuce, guacamole, toasted almonds, cherry tomatoes, roasted hot peppers, and lime dressing. That one salad alone has five of the healthiest salad ingredients available.
If seafood is not something you are interested in, there are also salads made with grilled chicken and salads that do not contain any kind of seafood or meat. The Insalata con Funghi for example, is made with mixed greens, portobello mushrooms, roasted peppers, toasted sunflower seeds, and mozzarella with balsamic dressing.
Eating healthy can easily be done when dining at La Bottega. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are also available.
