Maple Sweet Strawberry Spinach Salad
Fresh, vibrant, and lightly sweet — the summer salad you'll make on repeat.
Some recipes carry a story.
This one starts with my Mom. She made a salad dressing when I was growing up that I never forgot — sweet, tangy, and completely addictive. The kind of dressing you'd pour over anything green just to eat more of it.
When the YGY Sweet Maple Blend came along I had a thought — what if I swapped the sugar in her recipe for this blend? Same spirit. Better ingredients. A little garlic warmth that the original never had.
I made it once. My husband loved it. I made it again. Friends asked for the recipe. And now it's here — because some things are too good to keep to yourself.
For real — once you make this dressing you'll use it all summer long. 💚
Why this salad works for you
This isn't a sad side salad. It's a full plate of colour, crunch, and flavour — and if you add your protein it becomes a complete meal.
For women in perimenopause and beyond, getting a wide variety of greens, healthy fats, and antioxidants in one sitting supports hormone balance, gut health, and inflammation management. Spinach delivers iron and magnesium. Strawberries deliver vitamin C and antioxidants. Broccoli and asparagus deliver fibre and folate. The avocado oil in the dressing delivers healthy fats that help your body absorb all of it.
Your body will thank you. And your taste buds won't complain either.
What you need
Serves 4 · Prep: 10 min · No cooking required
For the salad:
4 cups mixed greens or spinach
½ cup fresh strawberries, sliced
½ cup broccoli, chopped
½ cup asparagus, chopped
¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)
¼ cup sunflower seeds or any nut you love
½ cup cheese of choice — goat, blue, or Swiss
For the Maple Dressing:
3 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
1–2 tbsp YGY Sweet Maple Blend ← Youngevity
1½ tbsp white balsamic or plain white vinegar
1 tsp dry mustard
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
Make it
Build the salad — Add greens to a large bowl. Top with strawberries, broccoli, asparagus, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and your choice of cheese.
Make the dressing — In a small jar or bowl whisk together avocado oil, YGY Sweet Maple Blend, vinegar, dry mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Dress and serve — Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving. Toss gently and enjoy.
Pro tip: Make double the dressing and keep it in a small jar in the fridge. It lasts all week and works on any salad, grain bowl, or grilled vegetable.
Nutrition snapshot(estimated per serving)
Calories: ~280 · Protein: ~7g · Carbs: ~18g · Fat: ~20g · Fibre: ~3g
Why you'll love this
✅ Stunning combination of sweet, tangy, and nutty flavours
✅ Light enough for a side — satisfying enough for a meal
✅ Ready in 10 minutes with zero cooking
✅ The dressing alone is worth making this recipe
✅ Mix your greens, cheese, fruits, and nuts — have fun with it
Kitchen Wisdom 💡
This dressing is the star. The salad is beautiful but the dressing is what people ask about. The Sweet Maple Blend replaces sugar with warm maple and garlic flavour — cleaner ingredients, better taste, and no refined sugar crash.
Make it a meal. Add grilled chicken, salmon, chickpeas, or a hard boiled egg to turn this into a full high-protein lunch. Aim for 28g of protein and you won't need a snack before dinner.
Mix your greens. Spinach, arugula, mixed greens, even shredded kale — this dressing works with all of them. Change the base every week and it never gets boring.
Dress at the last minute. The dressing will wilt the greens if it sits too long. Keep them separate until you're ready to eat — especially if meal prepping.
Inspired by my Mom. My Mom's original recipe used sugar. The Sweet Maple Blend gives you the same sweetness with garlic warmth and zero refined sugar. She'd approve. 💚
FAQ
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes — prep the salad ingredients and store them separate from the dressing. Combine right before serving so everything stays crisp.
What cheese works best?
Goat cheese is my favourite — it's creamy, tangy, and pairs beautifully with the strawberries. Blue cheese adds a bold kick. Swiss is mild and family-friendly. Pick what you love.
Can I use a different nut or seed?
Absolutely — walnuts, pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, or hemp seeds all work. Use whatever you have in your pantry.
What if I don't have white balsamic vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar or regular balsamic both work. The flavour shifts slightly but it's still delicious.
Where do I get the Sweet Maple Blend?
Right here → Discover MY Blends. It's one of the most versatile blends in the lineup — chicken, salmon, roasted vegetables, dressings. Buy one and use it everywhere.
Want the full visual recipe card?
→ Maple-Sweet Strawberry Spinach Salad — Full Recipe Card digital.
Food is just one piece of the puzzle.
You've been doing everything right and still feel off — low energy, brain fog, poor sleep, increased pain, chronic fatigue, or just that nagging feeling that something isn't quite right. Friend, you're not alone. And your body may be trying to tell you something important.
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👉 Take the DeCode Your Body Assessment →
Or DM me the word DECODE on Instagram and we'll figure it out together.
🛒 Grab the YGY Sweet Maple Blend I used → decodeyourbody.ca/easy-eats
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Happy cooking! 💚
Remember — I'm here to NourishHER, and that's you, my friend.
Let's take care of you together.
— Denise
