When the weather becomes warmer, we instinctively want to spend more time outside indulging in food, drinks, and fun. Greek food is especially fun to eat al fresco during the summer, but finding the right balance with your meals is essential. By eating light, you can enjoy summer treats – including Greek take-out – while knowing you’re eating healthfully.

Eat Greek Salad

Greek salads include tossed greens, feta cheese, olives, cucumbers, red onion, tomato and of course, olive oil. They bring together key vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B, potassium, zinc, and calcium. This meld of ingredients is low-calorie and nutrient-dense – an excellent option to include in your day-to-day meals.

Unsaturated fats from the feta cheese, olives and olive oil dressing are beneficial kinds of fat. They can reduce your risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, and might also play a role in helping you maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Did you know a tea spoon of olive oil is all you need to add some flavor without throwing off the calorie and fat levels?

In addition, eating 4-5 Kalamata olives – one of the key ingredients of Greek salads – supply the body with additional calcium, fiber and vitamin A, that offset the calorie intake (which is about 5 calories per olive).

Eating a smaller amount is best since olives are high in sodium. However, olives work with the rest of the ingredients to lower your blood cholesterol and neutralize free radicals that can lead to cancer and chronic illnesses (check out Maggie Greenwood, author of “Good Fat vs. Bad Fat”).

Adding Greek salad to your family meals is a way great to make sure you’re having a fresh, nutrient-dense addition to your meal. You can even complete your meal by topping your salad with some grilled chicken!

Feel like taking a rest from cooking? Order Greek take-out from one of our six locations and pick up a fresh Greek salad!