Balsamic Chicken Caprese Salad

Happy New Year everyone! It is hard to believe it's January already! For the start of the new year I decided to challenge myself to do a 4 week clean eating cleanse. I definitely overindulged this holiday season, and I needed a push to get back on the healthy eating wagon. 

This "cleanse" is really safe, healthy, and actually pretty easy. The main rules are to avoid processed food, white sugars and white flours. Other than that you can pretty much eat whatever wholesome foods you want. 

My husband agreed to do this challenge with me. That being said I knew I needed to come up with something delicious for him to take to work this week. His typical lunch consists of a turkey and cheese sandwich which does not fit into this clean eating challenge. I came up with this salad because it's light and flavorful but also extremely hearty, so I knew it would satisfy him.

My favorite part about this meal is the dressing- it's a creamy balsamic vinaigrette made with Greek Yogurt. Not only is it delicious, but it also provides an extra dose of protein!

My superfood of the week is tomatoes. Check out the health benefits here.

Ingredients for Chicken:

1 lb. chicken breasts

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Ingredients for Salad:

Cooked balsamic chicken (above)- sliced

4 cups arugula

2 cups spring mix

1 pint cherry tomatoes- sliced

8 oz. fresh mozzarella- cubed

1 avocado- sliced

Ingredients for Dressing:

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt

1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar

1/8 cup olive oil

salt/pepper to taste

Directions:

1) Place chicken breasts in a zip-top bag and add olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Marinate overnight.

2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a piece of foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray in a 9x13 pan. Place chicken on the pan and bake for 25-35 minutes or until cooked through.

3) When chicken is finished cooking let it cool for 10 minutes. Then place on cutting board and slice into thin pieces.

4) While chicken is cooling, add dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake vigorously until well blended.

5) Assemble salad by combining all of the salad ingredients together along with the chicken slices. Add into individual bowls and top with dressing.

*This recipe makes about 4 salads