Salads are often thought of as a summer food but they really don’t have to only be for warm weather. Winter salads are a great way to get in your veggies during the colder months. With the right flavors and ingredients, you’ll be just as satisfied as you would be with a warmer meal. Check out these delicious winter salads – they’re hearty and so cozy!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! 

1. Pumpkin Millet Kale Salad With Balsamic Reduction

Source: Pumpkin Millet Kale Salad With Balsamic Reduction

The perfect winter salad using seasonal produce. Roasted pumpkin, kale accompanied with nutty millet, this salad is so nourishing and full of amazing nutrition to keep your body at its best in the colder months. Topped with a drizzle of healthy homemade balsamic reduction, this Pumpkin Millet Kale Salad With Balsamic Reduction by Taryn Fitz-Gerald is the perfect winter meal.

2. Spinach and Fig Salad

Source: Spinach and Fig Salad

This Spinach and Fig Salad by Daniela Modesto is the salad du jour. You can get a little crazy if you want and toast your pumpkin seeds or keep them raw. Toasting them a bit will add a nice nutty flavor. The dressing is simple. Since I’ve been obsessed with it, I add it to everything these days. All you need is a little pomegranate juice, Dijon mustard, a bit of balsamic, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. You won’t be disappointed!

3. Butternut Squash Salad

Source: Butternut Squash Salad

This Butternut Squash Salad by Desiree Rodriguez is perfect for the cold weather. Using fresh butternut squash adds some heartiness that you look for in a warm meal that fills you up while the greens keep it light.  Plus, butternut squash is in season now so you can get it fresh and cheap! When it comes to butternut squash, soup is probably the number one dish that most people make with it.  Butternut squash soup is delicious!

4. California Kale, Orange, Almond and Mushroom Salad

Source: California Kale, Orange, Almond and Mushroom Salad

This California Kale, Orange, Almond and Mushroom Salad by Rachel Phipps is great to make ahead, as the kale holds up to sitting in the dressing in a way that regular salad leaves never do.

5. Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Salad

Source: Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Salad

This Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Salad by Crazy Vegan Kitchen is full of zesty flavor, thanks to the cumin sumac dressing. Roasted cauliflower and sweet potato are mixed with fresh spinach and pomegranate seeds, then tossed with a dressing made from apple cider vinegar, sumac, and pomegranate molasses. The addition of pomegranate seeds adds a burst of sweetness that complements the roasted vegetables.

6. Beet and Arugula Salad with Fennel

Source: Beet and Arugula Salad with Fennel

This Beet and Arugula Salad with Fennel by Crissy Cavanaugh is such a delicious, filling, and flavorful salad. It has complimentary textures – you will love it and make it a go to meal for this cold winter season.

7. Grain Power Salad

Source: Grain Power Salad

This Grain Power Salad by Honey Salt is brought to you by the restaurant Honey Salt! Enjoy!

8. Hearty Roasted Vegetable Rice Salad

Source: Hearty Roasted Vegetable Rice Salad

Patrica Granek‘s Hearty Roasted Vegetable Rice Salad recipe is a super delicious and satisfying meal. A wild rice salad recipe made with simple whole food ingredients and dressed with a deliciously easy salad dressing. An easy recipe for rice salad perfect for lunch, dinner or as a pot luck recipe.

9. Quinoa Pear Salad

Source: Quinoa Pear Salad

This Quinoa Pear Salad by Medha Swaminathan is both light and refreshing, and the pears give it a bit of sweetness! If you’re looking for a recipe that offers a variety of flavors, this recipe is for you.

10. Kale Salad With Cranberries and Butternut Squash

Source: Kale Salad With Cranberries and Butternut Squash

Roasted butternut squash is paired with this kale salad with cranberries, apples, and walnuts for a colorful autumnal plate that can stand alone as a main dish or a side at your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal. You’re going to love this Kale Salad With Cranberries and Butternut Squash by Alison Corey!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects. 

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
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• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!