Day 1 - Lunch (Mason Jar Salad with Rotisserie Chicken)

Mason Jar Salads

I used the following rules:

1.     Buy fresh local organic produce.

2.     Dressing goes in first.

3.     Highest content water toppings on bottom; onion, cucumber, peppers, et.

4.     Bulkier veggies next; Julianne carrots, cherry tomatoes.

5.     Then, I packed as much spring/spinach mix on top.

6.     Lastly, I put an ounce of walnuts on top, hoping that would keep the lettuce from getting gross touching the lid.

Recipe adapted from The Paleo Mama's Mason Jar Salad

I used an organic rotisserie chicken from my local Fresh and Natural grocery store, broke it down and chopped it up. My husband had hard-boiled eggs since I was burned out from the night before and hadn't gotten around to it yet.

I had to make our dressing because even at the organic store all the dressings had either dairy, vegetable, soy or canola oils... Ideally the oils that should be used are Olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado and coconut. Olive oil is the most affordable, but when I made the dressing I was discouraged it tasted funky like olive oil. Luckily, the next day the dressing tasted much better and I really didn't notice the olive oil taste at all. Mike requested ranch, so here's the recipe I used.

Paleo Ranch Dressing

1 whole egg

1 1/2 cup olive oil

1 tbsp ranch seasoning (see below for recipe)

4 tbsp lemon juice

1.     Process egg and 2 tbsp of lemon juice in food processor.

2.     Slowly drizzle oil into the food processor (I used a small 2 cup processor, so I had to add a tbsp of oil at a time)

3.     When the consistency is like mayo, mix in the last 2 tbsp of lemon juice and the ranch seasoning.

4.     Store in an air tight container in the fridge, remember that egg is raw!

Adapted from Fed + Fit's 5-Ingredient Paleo Ranch Dressing

Ranch Seasoning

2 Tbsp. dried parsley
1 1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. dried onion flakes
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. dried chives
1 tsp. salt

Mix all ingredients in an air tight container.

Adapted from Gimme Some Oven's Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix