The #1 Mason Jar Salad for Fall (original) (raw)

Harvest Mason Jar Salad

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Harvest mason jar salad recipe - Dr. Axe

The foods of autumn are bright, fresh and flavorful, which is exactly why I put together this harvest mason jar salad that incorporates so many of my favorite fall ingredients.

Plus, if I had to describe the health benefits of the foods in this recipe in one word, it’d be antioxidants. Cranberries, Brussels sprouts, beets and acorn squash — these are just a few of the ingredients in this recipe that are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants that work to slow down aging, boost your immune system and protect your body from free radical damage.

If you have trouble packing healthy, well-portioned meals for work, putting together a mason jar salad is a no-brainer. Just layer your ingredients, give it a quick shake and it’s ready to go!

What Is a Mason Jar Salad?

Mason jar salads are portable, compact and perfectly portioned, so you don’t have to worry about eating too much while at work or out of the house.

And instead of having to pack your dressing and more soggy ingredients separately to avoid wilted lettuce, by layering your ingredients in the mason jar and shaking it right before you eat, your salad stays crisp and fresh for hours. Using a mason jar can also save you time because you can prepare several at once.

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Harvest mason jar salad recipe - Dr. Axe

So don’t worry about packing up lunch for work every night when you’re tired and less likely to make healthy choices. Try this harvest mason jar salad that has a ton of super healthy, crunchy and delicious ingredients.

Nutrition Facts

One serving of my harvest mason jar salad made using this recipe contains roughly the following:

Here’s a quick glance at some of the top health benefits associated with the ingredients in this mason jar salad recipe:

Harvest mason jar salad ingredients - Dr. Axe

Acorn squash: Acorn squash is high in antioxidants that can help to prevent diseases caused by unstable free radicals in your body. Because acorn squash nutrition includes a large quantity of vitamin C, it also helps boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. For this reason, autumn and winter are the perfect time to eat acorn squash because so many people suffer from the common cold or flu during this time of year. (7)

Brussels sprouts: Brussels sprouts are packed with vitamin K that supports the health of your bones and helps with blood clotting as well as vitamin C that boosts your immunity. Eating Brussel sprouts can protect many areas of your body, including your digestive tract, eyes, skin, teeth and gums. (8)

Cranberries: Cranberries contain one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants, outranking other fruits and vegetables like broccoli, spinach, blueberries and strawberries. Eating unsweetened cranberries can help to reduce inflammation, prevent urinary tract infections, fight free radical damage, improve your immunity, fight heart disease and benefit your digestion. (9)

Beets: Like so many of the ingredients in this mason jar salad, beets are also high in antioxidants that help to prevent and fight diseases. They also help to reduce inflammation, and they work to detoxify and cleanse your blood. Some other beet benefits are it’s ability to improve your endurance and stamina and support heart health. (10)

How to Make the Best Mason Jar Salad

Harvest mason jar salad step 1 - Dr. Axe

For starters, you’ll need four clean mason jars that are ready to go. And if you haven’t done so already, roast your corn, beets, Brussel sprouts and acorn squash in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.

Harvest mason jar salad step 2 - Dr. Axe

Then begin prepping this mason jar salad by mixing your ingredients for the dressing. That’s 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette, 3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Harvest mason jar salad step 3 - Dr. Axe

Give the dressing a quick whisk and then add some to the bottom of each mason jar.

Harvest mason jar salad step 4 - Dr. Axe

Next, you are going to layer the rest of the ingredients into the four mason jars one at a time. Start with the roasted acorn squash and layer that on top of the dressing. Then add 1 cup of sliced and roasted Brussels sprouts, ½ cup of roasted corn, five small, cooked beets, ⅛ cup of garlic roasted pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup dried, unsweetened cranberries and ½ cup of organic, crumbled gorgonzola cheese.

Harvest mason jar salad step 5 - Dr. Axe

The last two ingredients to add to the top of your mason jar salad are 2 cups of spinach and 2 cups of arugula.

Harvest mason jar salad recipe - Dr. Axe

Right before you’re ready to eat this harvest salad, shake up your mason jar so all of the ingredients come together. Enjoy!

Other One-Bowl Meals

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Mix maple syrup, balsamic vinaigrette, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl.
  2. Layer ingredients equally into four mason jars in this order: dressing, squash, brussels sprouts, corn, seeds, cranberries, cheese, spinach and arugula.
  3. Shake mason jar well before serving.