Using pre-made ingredients and components can really streamline your kitchen process and help you experiment with new foods and flavors without having to resort to complicated or time consuming recipes. Introducing a favorite of mine: this ridiculously easy, high protein, veggie-packed chicken salad.

To me, salads are a great way to add veggies to your day, to clean out your refrigerator and put leftovers to good use, and to pack in a lot of nutrients in a single meal. They are easy to customize, simple to make, a great option regardless of your nutrition goals, and a food I hope we can redeem after it has been clouded by diet culture.

This plant-based dish is about as easy as it gets when it comes to throwing together a simple side. Enjoy this Risoni Summer Salad as a side to your bbq dinner, or double the portion and enjoy it with some shrimp or chicken for a full, high-volume meal.