I still find it hard to believe it’s 2012 already. Nor the fact that I am almost 33 years old. Can’t seem to budge from being 29.
New Year eve was spent eating delicious foods, getting caught in road traffic, taking loads of photos, spending quality time with friends, witnessing ball drop at Times Square and toasting to yet another wishful new year.
2012 came in pretty modestly this year — there was of course some champagne involved as well. But let’s not get to how many glasses we chugged, eh?
Then came the subject that is heavy and often ticks me this time of the year — new year resolution advertisements surrounding weight loss and frivolous diets.
I truly support healthy living and new year resolutions surrounding it. What I can’t stand and believe is the fact that media chooses to impart inaccurate and false information on weight loss programs. I mean, how can one shrink a few sizes by eating boat-load and popping pills?
Such false promotions should not be allowed to air in first place.
No doubts healthy eating habits, wholesome foods, fitness routines and promotions on yoga, pilates, gym deals has a special place in my heart and should be further encouraged.
With that, I hope to encourage a great beginning to 2012 with this recipe. No short cuts on flavors & sweet treats. Just wholesome & flavorful fresh salad.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked barley
- 1 cup black bean, rinsed and patted dry
- 2 small carrots, sliced
- 1 apple (honeycrisp, preferably), chopped
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 cup freshly shredded coconut
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp cinnamon powder
- 2 handfuls of salad (spring mix or spinach)
Directions:
- Add barley, beans, shredded coconut, sliced apples and carrots in a huge bowl. Lightly toss to combine.
- Sprinkle in lemon juice, coconut, salt & cinnamon powder. Lightly toss to combine.
- Serve salad on a bed of spring mix or spinach.
Optional – this salad is best served without dressing. But if you can’t resist the temptations, a yogurt dressing would pair very well 🙂
Off to gargle some warm water + salt. Awful time to have a bad sore throat. Have been chugging boat-load of H2O without any relief 🙁
What are your new year resolutions? And your views on the way media is handling weight related ads this time of the year?
Comments on this entry are closed.
Gorgeous salad. Looks very refreshing. I need to incorporate this into my menu rotation this week. My body is screaming for more fruits and veggies.
La Phemme Phoodie recently posted..Best of 2011: Top 10 Recipes
La Phemme Phoodie,
Thanks a lot dear — I need more salads too, especially after a terrible cold and flu 😀
this is such a refreshing salad! Love it! Perfect for the new year =)
anh@anhsfoodblog.com recently posted..Delicious Vietnam #20 Recap & Winners of Giveaways
Anh,
Thanks dear 🙂
It’s so funny to see how the blogosphere changes as soon as Christmas/New Year is out of the way. Gone are the cheese/meat/butter/pastry things and in come the salads! People are like “Nope, that’s it… I’ve eaten enough meat and fat to last me 6 months… now I need fresh, light delicious things”. No complaint from me though. I’ve indulged a lot during December and I really need things like this now to kick 2012 off to a good start. This looks delicious light and tasty Kiran – thanks so much for sharing!
Charles,
So very true! I tend to eat salads just so I can indulge in desserts afterwards 😀
Happy New year! How hearty this salad looks.
balvinder recently posted..Food for the soul: YOGA
Balvinder,
Thanks and a very Happy 2012 to you and the family 🙂
Love this salad! This year planning to get a little healthier with my eating habits and aiming to make more salads. Going to make this one.
Asmita,
Thanks sweetie! Do try this recipe and let me know how it tastes — have a great weekend 🙂
I love whole grain salads like this! I agree-diets should be delicious, not depriving and full of chemical-laden pills!
DessertForTwo recently posted..Forgotten Cookies
Christina,
Thanks sweetie — Have a great weekend 🙂
What great pictures and a terrific recipe. It looks delicious!
CHS,
Thanks a lot sweetie. Have a great weekend 🙂
Aha..I won’t mind skipping main course for a plate full of this refreshing salad! Love the way you make veggies look so gorgeous and yummy to eat.
Sanjeeta kk recently posted..Wholewheat Figgy Bars to #Welcome2012 and A Recap of The Year That Was
Sanjeeta,
Thanks a lot sweetie — it’s all about pleasing the eyes before belly, right? 🙂
Oh we are so on the wavelength, my friend! Weight loss fads drive me loco! Love how simplistic this salad is to make yet so flavorful! My body seems to be craving loads of fruits & vegetables so I imagine this will be replicated very soon at home- thanks! 😀
Khushboo recently posted..Clean slate
Khushboo,
I just hate those promotions and ugly tactics on weight lost. Losers 😀
This is exactly what I need after 10 days of vacation-style eating. It looks fresh and delicious. So good!
Happy 2012 Kiran. Hope it’s off to a good start for you!
Ameena,
Some how, my ill self had totally miss on this post and its comments. Hope 2012 it’s off to a great start for you and the family! Mine was filled with cough, cold, sinus etc.. You don’t need all the deets 😉
Great healthy salad to start the year on the right note!
Happy New Year, Kiran. Wishing you all the best this year.
Divya recently posted..Chocolate smoothie
Divya,
Thanks sweetie 🙂 I wish the same to you!
I don’t really do resolutions, but I am right there with you on the promotion of fad diets etc. Balance and fresh healthy foods are more for me 🙂
And speaking of…this gorgeous salad fits right in! With or without a dressing this needs to be on my menu 🙂
Magic of Spice recently posted..The Best Recipes of 2011 ~ And A Virtual New Years Eve Party
Magic of Spice,
Ditto! Do try this recipe and let me know how it tastes 🙂
P.S. sorry about your sore throat, I hope you feel better soon….
Magic of Spice recently posted..The Best Recipes of 2011 ~ And A Virtual New Years Eve Party
Thanks dear, I am feeling better now 🙂
I love the look of this salad; the colors in it are exquisite! The real way to stay healthy and lose weight is to eat real foods in moderation. Not pill popping, not fad diets, just food whose names you can pronounce prepared simply and deliciously. I could write a novel’s worth on my soapbox but instead I think I’ll head out and grab the ingredients to make me one of these gorgeous salads. 🙂
Julie M. recently posted..The Three Cheese “More Please!” Onion Tart
Julie,
Thanks a lot sweetie — I hope you enjoyed this salad!
Winter salads are so appealing, hearty and rich! This looks completely irresistible.
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective recently posted..Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Sommer,
Thanks sweetie!
Your salad looks so vibrant and full of different textures! Very pretty..would love to rustle it up for lunch.
Tadka Pasta,
Thanks a lot! Do try this recipe and let me know how it tastes 😀
I can’t think of a better salad to start the year with! I’m loving this combination!
Simply Life recently posted..My First Taste with Social Media: Slow Cooker Sweet Potato & Lentil Soup
Gina,
Thanks sweetie 🙂
Delicious Salad and Gorgeous Pictures….
Love it Kiran, trust me there is something so peaceful about your phography, I really love it.
Wishing you and your family a Beautiful and Happy New Year my friend.
Reem,
Thanks a lot yaar — your comments always put a smile on my face 🙂
Here’s wishing you and the family a very Happy & Prosperous 2012!!!
The salad looks very tasty and healthy!
Melanie @ Melanie Cooks recently posted..Chicken In A Clay Pot Recipe With Potatoes
Melanie,
Thanks sweetie 🙂
Stunning salad!! Happy new year!! I don’t like to make resolutions.. I am always trying to better myself, lol!!
vianney recently posted..Giveaway!!! Giveaway!!!
Vianney,
Thanks honey! I hope you are having a very Happy 2012 🙂
This looks delicious and healthful! I know what you mean about those ads, they drive me crazy too! Happy new year!
Katherine,
Thanks sweetie — Hope you are having a very Happy 2012 🙂
Your salad looks really colourful and full of great ingredients! 🙂 Happy new year!
mycookinghut recently posted..recipe featured in delicious magazine feb 2012
Leemei,
Thanks sweetie — Happy 2012 & Gong Xi Fa Cai 🙂
Happy New Year Kiran! I love your healthy dish as I’m trying to lose some weight this year…and I’m pretty determined to do this. I need a great inspiration and this dish is just wonderful! I look forward to your posts in 2012. And Happy early Birthday! 33? I’m turning 36 this year… after 35, I feel my body is totally going down…. >_< Enjoy your early 30s! 😉
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Kinpira Gobo (Braised Carrot & Burdock Root)
Nami,
Thanks sweetie — you are looking great for 36! Thanks for the encouragements and cheers to a fabulous 2012 🙂
I couldn’t agree more with you about the ‘healthy living’! This salad just looks gorgeous and I love the combination of fresh flavors. May 2012 bring you everything you wish for and more!
Denise recently posted..Baked Chicken Nuggets
Denise,
Thanks sweetie — may 2012 brings much happiness and prosperity to you and the family 🙂
What a lovely, colourful & well flavoured salad!
Yummie too!
Sophie recently posted..Vegan fennel & saffron tarts served with a warm mushroom, spinach & chickpeas salad
Sophie,
Thanks sweetie 🙂
I wish I was 33! Happy New Year. Great recipe. Love barley in anything.
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Just a Little Taste
Charlie,
I wish I was 29 and never in the 30s.. Heh, it’s a wishful thinking 😀
This salad looks delicious, especially with the honey crisp apples…great combination of ingredients and colors.
Happy New Year Kiran 🙂
Juliana recently posted..ANOTHER CIABATTA…AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Juliana,
Thanks sweetie — hope you are having a very Happy & Prosperous 2012!! Gong Xi Fa Chai 🙂
I love the fact that this delicious salad is also very healthy.
EasyFoodSmith,
Thanks a lot sweetie 🙂
Salad is really refreshing after the holiday seasons and looks so vibrant…loved the winter green apples in it. good recipe for a healthy lunch menu
Sukany recently posted..Pad Thai – Thailand in a bowl
Sukany,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for the compliments 🙂 Here’s hoping you are having a great 2012!!!
This salad would make a great addition to any healthy eating plan one may have started this year. I especially love that you incorporated black beans and barley – two of my favorite high fiber ingredients!
Kati,
Thanks a lot for the comments — coming from you, it means a lot 🙂
You’re too kind! Thanks for allowing me to participate in the conversations happening on your blog. Your blog is great!
What a beautiful and delicious looking salad! Can’t go wrong with this salad with all the goodies especially the apples. Wishing you more success in 2012, Kiran!
~ ray ~
wok with ray recently posted..Chicken Wings Afritada
Ray,
Thanks a lot dear — here’s wishing you and the family a very Happy & Prosperous 2012!! 🙂
Wow! The salad looks so enticing. Very beautiful presentation, Kiran! 🙂
Harsha recently posted..Flip-flap
WIsh you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year 😀
Harsha recently posted..Flip-flap
Harsha,
Thanks sweetie — so sorry for the late response, been ill!
Hope you & the family are having a very Happy 2012 🙂
Sorry about your throat – hope you feel better soon!
The salad looks wonderful, and so wholesome and healthy!
Biana | Meal Plan Tips recently posted..Chicken Recipes: Panko Chicken Recipe With Mushrooms
Biana,
I am feeling much better now, thanks sweetie 🙂
media tends to twist the reality and truth. our system shouldnt promote such crap but punish the cheats. I guesse that will anyway not happen so soon in a capitalistic thinking world.
Luscious little salad u v got there. I d like to try it out.
Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb recently posted..[GuestPost] Curry Tempura Paneer Cheese & Sweet Chili Jam by Will
Helene,
Ditto about capitalist {pig} 😀
Do try this recipe and let me know how it tastes!!
I have never tried barley into salads but sure why not. Thats why sharing recipes are so great because its about discovering new ones and trying out. This salad is certainly one for me because I am all in for salads and mostly , this is my night meal though I have to pair it with some rice.
Nava Krishnan recently posted..Spicy Seafood Fried Rice
Nava,
Thanks a lot dear — ditto about discovering new ingredients and ways to enhance our palates.
You can also pair this salad with a bowl or soup with a side of crusty bread. Yum!!
That looks absolutely, positively crunch-a-licious. 😉
Carolyn Jung recently posted..Who Put Coffee and Chocolate In My Tequila?
Too amazing, love this kind of thing. Barley, apples, beans… some of my favorite ingredients.
Plus it looks super healthy.
Bookmarking it as we speak, cause I need to try it ASAP.
Berlin Lunchbox recently posted..Sweet potato & tofu patties with avocado sprout salad and basil salsa