3 Heavy Green Salads to Serve on Father's Day

With all the meat that your dad would request to eat on Father's Day, it would be ideal to pair it with a bowl of healthy salad. Who says salads can't be heavy? Add a delicious meaty flavor to your green salad for a more satisfying, belly-busting meal on this special occasion!

Here are 3 heavy yet healthy salads you can serve during your Father's Day celebration:

Bacon and Butternut Squash Salad

What you need:

• 1 thick slice bacon, cut into small pieces
• 2 mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cups arugula
• 1/4 cup cooked butternut squash cubes
• 2 tbsp. crumbled goat cheese
• 1/2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. pine nuts
• 1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper, or more to taste

Heat oil in a small saucepan and cook bacon pieces for about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes more or until mushrooms are tender. Stir in butternut squash and continue cooking for 3 minutes more or until bacon is crisp. Remove from heat. Place arugula on a salad bowl and add bacon, mushroom and butternut squash cubes. Sprinkle goat cheese over salad and top with pine nuts. Season with cracked black pepper.

Club Sandwich Salad

What you need:

• 4 slices cooked turkey bacon, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 6 cups Romaine lettuce
• 2 cups whole kernel corn
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup seasoned croutons
• 3/4 cup cooked turkey breast
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• Salt and ground black pepper

To make the vinaigrette, combine garlic, white wine vinegar, mustard, oregano and sugar in a medium bowl. Carefully add olive oil, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper then set aside. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and cook corn over high heat for 6-8 minutes or until corn is lightly browned. Set aside and allow to cool. Place Romaine lettuce, turkey bacon, turkey breast, cherry tomatoes and cooled corn on a large salad bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to coat. Top with feta cheese and croutons.

Smoked Sausage Green Salad

What you need:

• 3/4 kg. smoked sausage, cut diagonally into 1/4-inch slices
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 3 cups small gold potatoes
• 1 cup mixed greens, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup Italian vinaigrette

Bring 12 cups of water to a boil in a pot and cook potatoes until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and allow to cool. In a medium skillet, cook smoked sausage over medium-high heat for 7-9 minutes or until browned. Arrange mixed greens on a serving platter along with cooled tomatoes, smoked sausage, yellow bell pepper and tomatoes. Drizzle with Italian vinaigrette before serving.