Follow these five easy steps to make a tasty salad packed with foods you love:

1. Start with veggies. The more colors, the better. Choose dark greens like kale, or red leaf lettuce, red peppers and tomatoes, white radishes and onions, yellow squash and peppers, green celery and cucumbers. Choose a leafy salad with a variety of greens, or go for a chopped salad that uses everything but leafy veggies! Plan on 2 cups of leafies or 1 cup of solid chopped veggies per person. (That's two veggie servings for those of you keeping track!)

2. Add some protein. Salads are a great way to use leftover cooked chicken or meat, and they're also a perfect base for a vegetarian meal that uses marinated chunks of tofu or legumes for the protein source. Use 3-4 ounces protein per serving. Pick from these suggestions, or come up with your own favorites:

• Canned legumes (like garbanzo beans, black beans or kidney beans). Rinse with cold water and drain well before adding to your salad.
• Strips of leftover chicken, pork or red meat. If you prefer a warm salad, reheat the meat in the microwave or quickly grill some sliced chicken or meat.
• Chunks of marinated tofu. You can purchase premarinated tofu, or marinate firm tofu in your favorite BBQ sauce, salad dressing or bottled marinade.
• Canned tuna and chicken. Both are made for salads -- no fuss, minimum prep time and great sources of protein.
• Cheese. A crumble of bleu or feta, a slice of aged cheddar or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan add zest and bite to any type of salad.

3. Toss in some grains. Pasta in all its infinite variety of shapes makes a great addition to a salad. Or choose other grains -- brown rice, couscous and bulgur are some of my favorites. If you don't want to include grains in your salad, opt for a slice of hearty whole-grain bread on the side.

4. Choose a healthy salad dressing, like one of these options:

• Forgo dressing completely. If you have a variety of flavorful veggies and some marinated tofu, you won't even miss it.
• Fat-free vinaigrettes made with flavored vinegars and seasonings.
• Dressings based on the healthy fats like olive oil, canola oil and walnut oil. Add your favorite vinegar and seasonings for tang and your dressing is a showstopper!

5. Top with add-ons if you're feeling wild! Try some of these tasty ideas, or use your imagination:

• A handful of chopped walnuts or avocado
• Guacamole (a tasty dressing substitute!)
• Fresh fruit such as blueberries, sliced strawberries or orange slices
• Dried fruit for more texture
• Healthy tortilla chips. Make your own by cutting flour tortillas into wedges and then baking until crispy. These are great added to a salad right before serving.