{"id":7075,"date":"2026-03-11T16:44:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T16:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/?p=7075"},"modified":"2026-03-11T16:46:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T16:46:47","slug":"recipes-parts-and-pieces-cooking-3-easy-mix-n-match-salads-great-for-lunches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/recipes-parts-and-pieces-cooking-3-easy-mix-n-match-salads-great-for-lunches\/","title":{"rendered":"Recipes: Parts and Pieces Cooking — 3 Easy Mix ‘n Match Salads Great for Lunches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Left-Handed Cooking<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I got a shoulder replacement last week. Of course it was my right shoulder so I am learning to cook mostly with my left hand which is very awkward! I wanted to share my fumbling cooking efforts with you as encouragement that you don’t have to be super skilled in the kitchen to still make healthy and tasty meals. And when it comes to easy + healthy cooking, “Parts and Pieces Cooking” is a great strategy.<\/p>\n

Kitchen Tip: Parts and Pieces<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before surgery I ran into one of our readers, Shiela, at the grocery store. Sheila shared one of her tricks which is very similar to what I do: When chopping vegetables, chop extra, put in a sealed container and then you have a ready supply of veggies whenever you make a meal.<\/p>\n

Sheila has found that, among other things, thinly sliced cabbage is great to have on hand because any meal can then be nutritionally boosted with a quick slaw.<\/p>\n

Fortunately my daughter cubed the beets I had bought pre-surgery. I then roasted in the crockpot which turns them into sweet nuggets (and you don’t have to bother peeling.) So I had a container with a whole week’s worth of beets in the fridge.<\/p>\n

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Quick Salads Using Parts and Pieces<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Whether its cabbage, roasted beets or any other pre-chopped veggies, the fun part comes as you creatively mix and match pre-prepped veggies to easily assemble a variety of dishes. For me, it has been a trio of salads featuring winter vegetables:<\/p>\n