Lunch gets the short end of the stick too often. It’s that meal you have to cram into your busy day, and many times that means grabbing something unhealthy on the go or snacking all day and missing a good and nutritious meal. 

This salad is exactly what you need to refuel your body to last the rest of your day without making you feel bad about your choices. It’s packed with healthy ingredients that taste great and put the focus on your hair health.

So, let’s talk about the ingredients and how they can help you hit your hair goals. 

Pumpkin seeds have a lot of nutrients that are great for your hair and the rest of your body too. But the most exciting part is the cucurbitin, an amino acid that stimulates hair growth. 

The addition of avocado to this salad brings a lot of vitamins B and E, which work on a cellular level to protect your scalp and hair and to create strength. If there is damage on your scalp, vitamin E will go to work to repair the situation. B steps in to give your hair what it needs to thrive.

Kale has become a must on the modern menu. This nutrient-rich super green supports healthy skin, hair, and bones. It also helps in digestion and contributes to cardiovascular health. The benefits go on and on, but let’s focus on hair.

It’s the beta-carotene in kale that fuels hair. In your body, the beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A, which is essential for the production of sebum. Sebum is a natural oil that your scalp produces. Your hair relies on this oil to keep it moist and healthy. 

Vitamin C is also a big component of kale, which is great because it’s key to building and maintaining collagen, a vital protein for your hair, skin, and bones.

Put all these ingredients together and you’ve got a knock-out salad that will have you looking forward to your lunchtime break.

Avocado with roasted pumpkin seeds
and kale salad

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds

1 cup tightly packed cilantro, torn

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1 head kale

1 large red onion, diced

2 Hass avocados

Vinaigrette Ingredients:

4 lemons, juiced and zested

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Directions:

This recipe makes four servings. 

Roast the pumpkin seeds. To do this, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the seeds and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl mix the kale, cilantro, tomatoes, and onion.

Directions for vinaigrette:

To make the vinaigrette put the lemon zest, juice, vinegar, garlic and remaining 4 tablespoons of oil in a small Tupperware or salad dressing container. Shake well before using.

Pour your vinaigrette over the kale salad mix and toss until well combined.

Divide salad into 4 servings. Wait until right before your meal to peel, and then slice avocados to keep them fresh and green. Place half of each avocado on a salad.