Holy Pine Nuts! This salad is tasty AND good for you!

Is it any wonder that those who eat the Mediterranean diet are healthier? The food of that culture is rich in vitamins and low in fat. Here's a delicious salad that takes no time at all to make, and which is chock full of all the great cold vegetables that make healthy bodies.

Pine Nut Cucumber Tomato Salad:

-Two large cucumbers, washed (skin on- of course you will fresh pick these from your garden if possible!), cut into bite-sized pieces
-Three large tomatoes, ripe and red and washed, cut into bite-sized pieces
-a large handful of washed and cut baby spinach
-a large handful of fresh grated mozzarella cheese
-cooked pasta (your choice of style)
-balsamic vinegar and olive oil
-Italian seasoning (oregano, basil or mixed)
-clove of garlic, minced (garlic salt may be substituted, in which case, omit the salt below)
-green onions, chopped into tiny pieces (onion salt may be substituted, in which case omit salt below)
-salt
-1 and 3/4 oz. to 3 oz pine nuts

Toss and season to taste.
Sprinkle with fresh cut organic parsley.

Now, for the happy news-
Your salad is not only easy to make and delicious, but it is healthy too! I'm sure you already know the nutrition benefits of eating spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers and parsley. Did you know that balsamic vinegar has health benefits too? And look at the benefits you reap from pine nuts:

-Pine nuts contain an appetite suppressant, are high in iron, promote cardiovascular health and contain lutein, an antioxidant that is crucial to the prevention of eye diseases. The antioxidants in the pine nuts help remove free radicals from the body so they slow down the aging process. What's more, pine nuts are a quick energy booster, as they contain protein and magnesium.

Enjoy with your taste buds and enjoy knowing that you are feeding your body well!