Healthy Taco Salad

Healthy Taco Salad!

After a month of strict Whole 30, which was followed by fashioning my menu planning to generally emulate paleo style eating, I decided to attempt taco salad.  This might not have been my first choice but there was company coming over that I knew taco salad was one of her favorite meals, so that is exactly what the menu called for! But wait, taco salad without cheese? Oh and the chips? And have I ever eaten it without sour cream? Don't think so!  So out comes the cutting board, but along with a preconceived idea that I really wasn't going to enjoy this 😏.

I tried to remember it's not all about me, and meal planning needs to be considerate of others, but wait, I can make it a little bit about me right?  In my short time of learning this style of cooking, I had learned that piling on the fresh toppings to several entrees adds quite a burst of flavor!  So we will definitely add lots of avocado (my new love), olives, tomatoes, fresh pico de gallo, etc, and now everyone will be happy right?!  (working on my attitude here).

Serving time came and I managed to not whine when skipping over the things that were once thought to be staples to taco salad, and instead, topping it high with avocado, pico de gallo, and oh, don't forget the cilantro, that's an important one!

FRESH PICO DE GALLO
  2 chopped tomatoes
  1 can mild green chilies
  1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  2 Tbls finely chopped onion

As these amazing flavors had a dance party in my mouth, I finished my meal stating that it was the best taco salad I have ever had! I am now a firm believer that our taste buds really do change, our cravings change, and there is life after sour cream. There was a day I just had to have M and M's, and that has changed to crave an apple slice or a handful of mixed nuts. For this meal, the seasoned fresh ground beef and bright taste of the toppings were so flavorful, and now I believe those flavors were previously masked by the overly salty and processed toppings I used. 

So don't be afraid to try something a little different, work on that attitude, and risk an adventure without "those" toppings,  - just give it a try!  This meal isn't complete without the World's Greatest Margarita, but that post is for another day so check back for that secret recipe!

INGREDIENTS -

Large bowl of fresh lettuce
1 pound organic ground beef (or more depending on the size of your crowd)
Chopped olives
Fresh pico de gallo
Thinly sliced red onion
Avocado, sliced or chopped
Cilantro
Sunflower seeds for topping, you get that crunch without the chips!

Here's to taco salad - ole!