When you think of healthy food, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is a big green salad. But if you’re like most people, the thought of incorporating more salad into your diet probably makes you feel like yawning. Let’s face it, unless you’re extra creative in the kitchen, the majority of the salads you make may fall under the category of boring. The good news is, you don’t have to be Bobby Flay or Giada  de Laurentis to make a salad you’ll look forward to eating. All it takes is a little creative thinking and the right ingredients.

Here are 10 ways to give your next salad a few extra points on the “excitement” meter:

Think Color

When you think of your average salads like caesar and garden, they all seem to have a common denominator… they’re very green. While this isn’t a bad thing, it can get old fairly quickly, unless you mix it up.

Adding in color with different fruits and vegetables is an easy way to make your salad tastier and healthier at the same time. Try tossing in some strawberries or kiwi for a little tartness like in this Strawberry, Kiwi and Spinach Salad recipe from AllRecipes.com. Or how about adding in apples and grapes for a bit of sweetness? Bright orange carrots, dark purple beets or even yellow corn can also add some vibrancy to your salad.

Want to get even more creative? Bloggers Scott and Kendra of A Sonoma Garden, said, “This year we grew edible flowers just for putting in salads. Nasturtiums are pretty common edible flowers (they are the bright orange ones), but this year we also grew edible chrysanthemums (the yellow-white petals).”

Get a Little Cheesy
From pasta to tacos, cheese is a favorite ingredient in a variety of cuisine. It’s also a great ingredient to jazz up your salad with. What’s even better is that with so many cheeses to choose from, you can have a different experience every time. Cheese is also a good way to sneak in a little extra protein into your salad.

Gorgonzola and goat cheese pair deliciously with fruits, while stronger cheese like feta go great with olives and cucumbers. A sprinkle of parmesan goes great with well, just about anything.

Dress It Up

Just as different fruit and vegetable toppings can add personality to your salad, so can the dressings you combine them with. Celebrity chef Alton Brown, for instance, has a super simple Honey Mustard Dressing recipe that takes just about five minutes to make. It includes Dijon mustard, honey and rice vinegar.

Meanwhile, a light summer salad goes great with this Lemon Vinaigrette dressing from Martha Stewart, which is made with Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil and ground pepper.

You can even add a little Asian inspiration to your salad with a topping like this Asian Sesame Dressing from WholesomeHomemaker.com. It includes ingredients like soy sauce, honey, garlic and fresh ginger.

Explore Your Greens

We all know iceberg and romaine lettuce. But if you want a more creative salad, look beyond the traditional. There are ton of different lettuce varieties you can try, including arugula, butter lettuce, mesclun, oak leaf and watercress, just to name a few. Other greens like spinach and kale also make great bases for tasty salads.

Ready to test out different greens at home? Start with this Cucumber and Watercress Salad recipe from FoodNetwork.com, or try your luck with Dr. Andrew Weil’s Tuscan Kale Salad recipe, which is “Made with strips of Italian black kale, fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, grated pecorino Tuscano cheese and bread crumbs. These bright, refreshing flavors combine to bring the sunny taste of Italy to your table.”

Add Something From the Grill
According to http://SummerTomato.com, “Grilled or sautéed onions, peppers, mushrooms, and meats wilt salad greens and make them slightly warm, adding depth and character to an otherwise boring salad.”

If you’re a red meat eater, try adding slices of grilled steak like in this Steak Salad Recipe from SimplyRecipes.com. Or opt for poultry like in this Refreshing Grilled Chicken Salad from TasteofHome.com. Seafood lovers may also enjoy this Grilled Salmon Salad With Orange-Basil Vinaigrette from TLC.com, or this Margarita Shrimp Salad from EatingWell.com, which features, “The flavors of a margarita – tequila, orange and lime – are blended in a tossed salad of fresh shrimp, diced avocado and sliced red onion, spiked with a creamy, spicy sour cream dressing.”

A For Avocados

According to Delish.com, “Avocado’s appeal is undeniable. At once creamy and firm and filled with healthful omega-3 fatty acids and potassium, this silken green fruit shines as a stand-alone star or as a distinctive component of a larger salad mix.”

The website offers a variety of delicious avocado-inspired salad recipes that may have you craving this yummy ingredient on more than just your quesadillas.

Egg-Tastic
According to SummerTomato.com, “Boiled, fried or poached, an egg is a wonderful way to make your salad more substantial.” Eggs also pair deliciously with avocado like in this Egg White and Avocado Salad featured on EatYourselfSkinny.com.

Go Nuts

Like with cheese and meat, nuts are another way to add a little bit of protein to your salad. Nuts are also a great option for those who don’t eat dairy or meat.

“Walnuts and sliced almonds are my favorite,” says Darya Rose from SummerTomato.com. “But feel free to try pecans, cashews, peanuts, pumpkin seeds or anything else that sounds interesting.”

Beans, Good for Your Health

Beans are another creative salad option that’s also healthy, particularly for vegetarians who need to get their protein from food choices that don’t include meat. “Since beans contain both fiber and protein, you should try to eat them as often as you can,” says FitSugar.com. “Fiber is necessary to keep us regular, plus it helps to lower cholesterol, and prevent certain types of cancer.”

Sprinkling chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, edamame or other legumes are an inexpensive way to add both protein and fiber to your salad.

Get Grainy

Grains are a creative way to add dimension to your salad, while at the same time making it more filling and healthy. FoodandWine.com says, “Hearty, super-healthy quinoa is spectacularly versatile.” You can use this use the nutty-tasting grain in many different ways like this Lemony Quinoa Salad With Shaved Vegetables.

Brown rice can also give your salad a Greek twist by adding it in along with roasted cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, creamy feta and kalamata olives, like in this Brown Rice Greek Salad featured in The LemonBowl.com.

Get Salad Savvy

There are dozens of additions and combinations that not only make your salad a little more fun, but heartier and healthier as well. The trick is to add in enough protein, carbohydrates and fiber to give you a perfectly balanced meal.

How do you make your salads more exciting?