Crisp, flavorful and delicious, salads offer a healthy way to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

Eating at least five portions of fruits and vegetables every day can help boost your energy, slim your waistline and keep you healthy. One of the most delicious ways to eat enough fruits and vegetables is to serve up some tasty salads.

There are so many varieties of salads that you could eat a different one for at least every day of the month. In fact, a new Web site from Litehouse Foods offers 30 salad recipes for 30 days. Here's a sample salad recipe, perfect for Mother's Day, that is all the meal you need, if coupled with some warm bread and then a dessert of mom's liking.

BBQ ranchero salad

Serves four

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)

1/3 cup bottled barbecue sauce

1 package (10 ounces) torn mixed salad greens

1 medium tomato, chopped

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1 small red bell pepper, cut into short, thin strips

1 cup whole-kernel corn, drained

1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed

1/2 cup sliced ripe olives, drained

1 green onion, thinly sliced

1 cup Litehouse Barbeque Ranch Dressing or substitute Litehouse Salsa Ranch Dressing or 3/4 cup ranch dressing mixed with 1/4 cup barbecue sauce

Brush both sides of chicken with barbecue sauce; grill or broil about 5 inches from heat source about 6 minutes per side or until juices are clear. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine

lettuce, tomato, 1/2 cup cheese, red pepper, corn, black beans, olives and green onion; mix well.

To serve, divide lettuce mixture onto four serving plates. Cut chicken crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices; arrange over lettuce. Drizzle salads with barbeque ranch dressing and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.

For more recipes, visit www. 30salads30days.com.

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NAPSI