How to Make a Winter Mason Jar Salad

We know what you’re thinking – another salad recipe at the start of the new year. Typical. But this isn’t just another “get healthy and lose weight quick” scheme, and it’s not only about eating healthier and trying to lose weight.

True, what we’re sharing with you today does have to do with healthy eating, and maybe you are looking to lose some weight. But then again, maybe you’re just looking to do a little “detox” from all the holiday indulgence. Or maybe you need some quick and easy take-to-work lunch ideas. (Holiday shopping got your wallet a bit down and you can’t eat out for lunch every day?)

Whatever you are looking to achieve, we’ve got the solution that will please everyone – a winter mason jar salad!

We’ve been steadily making our way through all the seasons, enjoying a different salad that will suit each time of the year. In spring and summer, we focused on showcasing the best produce that the seasons have to offer by keeping it fresh and light. In the fall, we added warmth and heartiness to crisp salads for the ultimate transition from summer to autumn.

Now that it’s winter, we’re seeing less of the usual salad suspects that you would normally find during warmer seasons. But that means it’s the perfect time to get creative and add a lot of bright, vibrant colors. Sweet and tart citrus fruits are at their peak, and pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries add a beautiful ruby red pop to salads. Crisp veggies, like celery, add a fresh crunch that will brighten up your winter meals.

And best of all, you can make it ahead of time, put it all in a mason jar, and take it to work, school, or really anywhere! Once you understand the simple assembly technique, you’ll be able to throw together any kind of salad whenever you want – no soggy salads ever again.

To see what we like to put in our favorite wintertime salad, and learn how to assemble a mason jar salad, watch our video here:

If your goal is to eat healthier and / or lose weight, and you are totally game on increasing your salad intake, check out our post on 3 Ways to Make Salads an Even Healthier Part of Your Life.

If you want to eat healthier, but don’t want to stick with just salads, eating more vegetables is a great way to lead a healthier life. We offer fun and creative ways to #eatmoreveggies here – we include veggie fritters, veggie noodles, and meatless buffet-style meals!

If you really just need some new take-to-work lunch ideas that are convenient to transport and won’t break the bank, switch up your routine and try making mason jar ramen! Totally life-changing and definitely no more sad desk lunch.

To make it easy for you to put together a bunch of different mason jar salads at any time, we created a couple of infographics that you can download for free and print out to easily reference. Get them below, and you’ll be one step closer to a healthier and tastier new year.

As always, we’re here to help you live your best life in the kitchen. Join our cooking community by signing up for our newsletter below, and we’ll send you great cooking tips and resources that will help you raise your kitchen IQ.