Spinach Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

This salad combines five super healthy foods with anti-aging properties and big beauty benefits! Meet pomegranates, the newly recognized beauty food. Pomegranates contain a polyphenol compound that fights damage from free radicals, along with a super-nutrient that may increase your body's capacity to preserve collagen. Spinach is loaded with beta-carotene and lutein, two nutrients that have been shown to improve skin elasticity, and walnuts are the richest source of Omega 3 (in the form of Alpha Linoenic Acid or ALA) outside salmon and oily fish. The anti-aging properties of avocados and olive oil add even more benefits.

Prep time: 20 minutes • Yield: 4 servings • Portions: 1 vegetable, 2 fat

Ingredients:

Pomegranate Vinaigrette

• ¼ cup cold pressed pomegranate juice
• 2 tablespoons pomegranate vinegar*
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon coarse Dijon mustard
• 1 medium shallot, minced finely
• ¾ teaspoon Celtic or pink Himalayan salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup olive oil

Salad:

• 8 cups baby spinach
• ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup walnut pieces, toasted
• ¼ cup pomegranate arils
• ½ avocado, sliced
• ¼ cup goat cheese, crumbled (optional for 80/20 plan)

Directions:
Combine pomegranate juice and vinegar, maple syrup, shallot, salt, and pepper and whisk together.

Slowly drizzle in olive oil while continuing to whisk.

Toss together salad ingredients and serve with dressing.

*Note: A good quality red wine vinegar may be substituted if pomegranate vinegar is not available.

Enjoy!