The perfect healthy Tex-Mex salad

Happy National Tequila Day! It's my third favorite national holiday, after National Margarita Day and Cinco de Mayo, of course. 

It's a good thing these holidays come around only once a year, because I could eat Mexican food all day, every day. And it isn't exactly healthy for you. So next time you get a craving for (calorie-packed) quesadillas/enchiladas/carnitas/margaritas, opt for this salad instead. 

Ingredients: 

Your favorite lettuce (I like spring mix) 

1 cucumber, sliced

4 tbsp sweet corn kernels, cooked

1 tbsp cilantro, chopped

1 avocado, cubed

1 lb chicken tenders

3 tbsp Newman's Own Lite Lime vinaigrette 

1 tbsp shredded cheese

Ground cayenne red pepper, to taste

Salt and black pepper, to taste 

Directions: 

Sautee chicken with salt, pepper, and ground cayenne red pepper until fully cooked. While chicken is cooking, combine lettuce, cucumber, corn, and cilantro and toss with the lime vinaigrette. Place in individual bowls and top with sliced avocado and cooked chicken. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Serve. 

One trick: I like to salt the avocado lightly before serving--I find it adds a little more flavor. Also, feel free to add a little jalapeño to the salad or to the dressing for an extra kick. 

I love this salad because the avocado and corn actually satisfy your Tex-Mex craving, and that lime vinaigrette is amazing--just a little sweet and perfectly compliments the overall flavor.

What else compliments the flavor? This watermelon basil margarita, courtesy of my fashionable blogger friend Jessica, of My Style Vita. And since the salad is light in calories, don't feel guilty about having a couple of these margaritas today (they're delish!).