Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon salad!

No chameleons were harmed in the making of this salad.

Salads are like chameleons! (Go with me on this one.) As a chameleon can change colors with it's surrounding environments, salads change colors with it's surrounding season. The fall brings orange colors of pumpkins and squash, winter is white with bok choy and cauliflower, spring brings greens of artichokes and asparagus, and summer is reds with strawberries and peppers. (Now you're picking up what I'm throwing down!) How can anyone ever get sick of salads with such an endless and changing variety of crunchy combinations?!

Paleo pointer of the post: As we transition into Paleo eating next month with our challenge, I want everyone to remember the importance of balancing the food groups we consume. Don't eat a big breakfast of only protein eggs and bacon, followed by the carb loaded lunch of a big salad. Instead eat a balance of proteins, fats and carbs for every meal. I believe Jeff Martin, founder of CFKids says it best - "Look at your plate, make a fist, eat that much meat every meal; turn your hand over and fill it with nuts and seeds, eat that much good fat, fill the rest of your plate with stuff you found in the fruit and vegetable aisle. Fill your plate this way at every meal, don't eat more." Simple and doable, just what Sweet Cheeks is all about!

Summertime Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 lime

1 orange

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

10 cups fresh spinach

½ cup walnuts, toasted

1 avocado, cubed

1 ½ cups strawberries, quartered

1 lemon to squeeze on top

Fresh cracked pepper to shake on top

To toast walnuts, place in a frying pan over medium high heat. Cook 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan often to keep the nuts from burning. The nuts are done when they are slightly golden. Set aside to cool.

Whisk together olive oil, the juice of 1 lime, the juice of 1 orange and 1/8 teaspoon each of sea salt and pepper. You've just made orange vinaigrette!

Toss together spinach, strawberries, walnuts, avocado and orange vinaigrette in a large bowl. Top with the juice of 1 lemon and freshly cracked pepper.

Enjoy!