DIYS (Do it Yourself Salad) This

About 2 months ago I started channeling a salad artist. You’re thinking “a what?” Yeah, I know. I had no idea such a person existed either but they must have because I have never, in my lifetime, created one salad that has looked even sightly like the ones I have been whipping up lately. So the only logical explanation is that I’m channeling someone who felt their time here on earth to create art through salad was cut short for whatever reason and decided I was the one to carry on their dream.

I have been posting pictures of these salads over on my Instagram account and in a few Facebook groups and people seem to like them. Some people have even suggested that I should “write a book” or that they would “hang pictures of your food on the my wall.” Whoa. That comes as a big surprise too because I have only recently taken up food photography as a legitimate hobby (i.e. one that I actually work at doing better every day).

The other thing I’m practicing every day is eating the most nutritious and delicious food I can and I can honestly say that all that practicing has paid off and it is really easy for me. Now. There was a time when I almost dreaded having to decide what to eat.  I actually think about what I’m going to eat for hours before I do. I get that most people don’t have that much time to devote to thinking about eating. Or do they? Are we choosing what to eat (which, let’s be honest, is not always what we should be eating) because we don’t have time or is it because we can’t be bothered to give it some thought and food manufacturers have made it ridiculously easy for us to not think about it? When was the last time you cooked an entire meal where not one ingredient came from a package, box or can (and I’m not talking tomatoes here)? Be honest. With yourself.

I get that we live in busy times but it’s time to start slowing down. We are rushing past the things that matter most in the long run; spending meaningful time with our family and friends, really enjoying our life every day and just being happy. And, all of that is only possible if we feel great. And feeling great comes with good health.

That’s what DIYS is. A way to unleash your inner Van Gogh and create your own work of art through food. I promise you if you take the 10 minutes it will take to make one of these, that when you sit down to eat it you will truly enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labour.

To make it easy for you I have created a shopping list that you can download here DIYS Shopping List and take with you the next time you go to the store. If you keep your refrigerator stocked with these items it will always be easy to create your own nutritious and delicious works of art.

For more salad ideas and vinaigrette recipes check out the Salad section of the website.