Healthy Recipes Health Conditions Diabetes-Appropriate Diabetic Salad Recipes 16 Quick & Easy Salad Recipes for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels These healthy, crisp and filling salads are sure to become a staple in your kitchen. By Sadie Schulte Sadie Schulte Sadie Schulte is EatingWell's editorial apprentice. She attends Iowa State University, where she is a senior studying advertising and fashion communications. During her time at college, she has worked as a reporter at the campus newspaper, the Iowa State Daily, where she writes about culture and lifestyle. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 18, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Charlotte & Johnny Autry These meals are lower in saturated fat and made with sodium-conscious ingredients to be appropriate for those following a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Plus, these tasty dishes are on the table in just three steps or less, making them helpful for busy days. Try recipes like our Sesame Kohlrabi Chicken Salad and our Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing. 01 of 16 Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad Charlotte & Johnny Autry Kohlrabi (a bulbous vegetable related to broccoli and Brussels sprouts but with a milder, sweet flavor) and almonds add crunch to this crowd-pleasing salad. Baked tofu or shrimp can be used instead of the chicken. View Recipe 02 of 16 Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup! View Recipe 03 of 16 Sweet Potato, Kale & Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing These hearty kale salads hold up well for 4 days, making them perfect for meal-prep lunches. To keep the ingredients from getting soggy, dress this salad and top it with peanuts just before serving. For a delicious vegan option, swap in roasted tofu for the chicken breast (see Associated Recipes). View Recipe 04 of 16 Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad with Greens For a healthy variation on creamy chicken salad, we've replaced half the mayonnaise with basil pesto. Serve over greens or make it into a sandwich for a healthy lunch. Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad with Greens 05 of 16 Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing Brie Passano This healthy vegetarian salad recipe features chickpeas and quinoa for a boost of protein. Cilantro adds color and flavor when blended to make a creamy dressing. Serve this cold salad for lunch or dinner. Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing 06 of 16 Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple This salad with lentils, feta and apple is a satisfying vegetarian entree to whip together for lunch. To save time, swap in drained canned lentils--just make sure to look for low-sodium and give them a rinse before adding them to the salad. View Recipe 07 of 16 Chicken Salad Jason Donnelly This chicken salad recipe combines Greek-style yogurt and mayonnaise for a creamy dressing. Sweet apple, toasty hazelnuts and crunchy celery balance the flavors and texture. Serve on toasted baguette or atop lightly dressed greens. View Recipe 08 of 16 Mashed Chickpea Salad with Dill & Capers This creamy yet light vegan salad is full of bright, herby goodness. On its own, it's great to serve alongside a sandwich or veggie burger in place of potato salad or coleslaw. You can also make it into a light lunch by adding a handful of arugula to enjoy it as a green salad. Double the recipe and refrigerate to have on hand throughout the week. View Recipe 09 of 16 Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu & Peanut Dressing Prep four days' worth of high-protein vegan lunches using just four easy ingredients from your local specialty grocery store, including a veggie-heavy salad mix as a base. Because this salad mix is hearty, you can dress these bowls up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors in this healthy chopped salad to marry. If you can't find a hearty mix, go with broccoli slaw or shredded Brussels sprouts. View Recipe 10 of 16 Sweet Potato, Kale & Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing These hearty kale salads hold up well for 4 days, making them perfect for meal-prep lunches. To keep the ingredients from getting soggy, dress this salad and top it with peanuts just before serving. For a delicious vegan option, swap in roasted tofu for the chicken breast (see Associated Recipes). View Recipe 11 of 16 Sweet Potato, Kale & Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing These hearty kale salads hold up well for 4 days, making them perfect for meal-prep lunches. To keep the ingredients from getting soggy, dress this salad and top it with peanuts just before serving. For a delicious vegan option, swap in roasted tofu for the chicken breast (see Associated Recipes). View Recipe 12 of 16 No-Cook Black Bean Salad The dressing for this vegan black bean salad gets its creaminess from blended avocado. Any mix of salad greens will work well, but try arugula if you want to give this hearty salad a peppery kick. View Recipe 13 of 16 Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil Roasted sweet potatoes are paired with spinach, cabbage and white beans and tossed together with a bright basil dressing in this healthy main dish salad. View Recipe 14 of 16 Avocado Egg Salad This quick recipe takes classic egg salad to the next level with the addition of creamy avocado. Serve it on a piece of toasted whole-grain bread or inside a tender lettuce leaf. Avocados brown quickly, so plan on making it no more than two hours before you plan to serve it. View Recipe 15 of 16 Sesame-Garlic Spinach Salad Jacob Fox The magic of this easy spinach salad is the warm, garlic-infused dressing, which makes the spinach, carrots, radishes and scallions slightly tender and helps them absorb a bit of the dressing. View Recipe 16 of 16 Kale, Quinoa & Apple Salad Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall This kale, quinoa and apple salad is perfect for fall. Fresh apples bring crisp autumn flavor, and the kale breaks down when it's massaged with the dressing. Nuts, fennel and quinoa add more layers of texture, while blue cheese lends a savory note. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit