Sunshine Salad Recipe (Perfect for Potlucks) - Simply Stacie (2024)

This Sunshine Salad is the best salad to serve up for a picnic in the park, potluck dish, or a treat for a hard day’s work. Fresh fruit paired with a sugar-freeJello to make it a Weight Watchers friendly salad. Believe it or not, this sunshine salad has just 2 WW Points Plus per one serving.

Sunshine Salad Recipe (Perfect for Potlucks) - Simply Stacie (1)

When I am trying to watch what I eat, I find I struggle when it comes to wanting to snack. I could be workingonethe computer and devour a whole bowl of chips before I realized I even ate them. If I am not careful I know, I can consume a lot of calories with the snacking I do.

I generally crave sweet when I want a snack. I wanted to create a fruit salad that I could just grab when I felt that sweet craving starting to rise within me. Let me tell you, this fresh fruit sunshine salad has been such a delicious snack but also help me choose smarter when it comes to my snacking.

Weight Watchers Sunshine Salad

I have lost 40 pounds on my Weight Watchers Plan, which is amazing. When I take the time to make dinners at home, prep snacks so I can grab and go, it saves me from making bad choices when I am out running errands. I no longer have the urge to run through a drive through, I can just grab a pre-made snack out of my purse.

This recipe here uses sugar-free vanilla pudding; it helps make it Weight Watcher friendly. Pairing the vanilla JELLO mix next to the mandarin oranges syrup gives it a sweet and creamy consistency that just hits the spot. Then add in your fresh pineapple and banana, and this tropical salad is fit for a crowd.

Sunshine Salad Recipe (Perfect for Potlucks) - Simply Stacie (2)

Potluck Sunshine Salad

So if you have plans for a picnic or heading to a potluck soon, this sunshine salad is going to be a perfect fit. If you are on the Weight Watchers, plan you have a tasty dessert that you know you can enjoy, and it is so quick to make. With minimal prep, you can have it ready to go in a hurry.

I have taken this to potlucks before, and if I know we are going to be outdoors, I just make an extra bowl with ice. I find a larger bowl and will the bottom with some ice. Then I sit the other bowl that has the fruit salad in it, on top, so the bowl is sitting on the ice. It will help keep it chilled as you are waiting to be served.

Sunshine Salad Recipe (Perfect for Potlucks) - Simply Stacie (3)

More Crave Worthy PotluckSalads

  • Rainbow Fruit Salad
  • Watermelon and Feta Salad
  • Creamy Fruit Salad

Tips for Making Sunshine Salad

MandarinOranges| Do not drain the juice from our oranges. This is what the Jello mix will work with to create a creamy syrup for the salad.

Pineapple| One tool I use is a pineapple corer. It takes just minutes to get the core out of the pineapple and makes cutting up fresh pineapple so much easier. They are pretty affordable, and most mass retailers have them, or you can buy one online if need be.

Bananas| I reach for a less ripe banana when I make this salad. I want it to still be mostly yellow with little to no brown spots. You will have a slightly firmer texture, and it will hold up nicely in the salad. When you use a browner (ripe) banana, they can break down a lot faster in the salad, giving you a more mushy texture.

Sunshine Salad Recipe (Perfect for Potlucks) - Simply Stacie (4)

Perfect Summer Salad

This indeed is an ideal summer salad. If you are not on the Weight Watchers, plan this is still an outstanding fruit salad recipe that I highly recommend serving up. My whole family loves this, and when I bring it to parties or a family gathering, it is always one of the first things that get cleaned up the fastest.

Give it a try the next time you are craving a fruit salad and see how you like it. If you are not a fan of sugar-free, you can always replace with regular vanilla pudding as well. It will taste just as good.

Sunshine Salad Recipe (Perfect for Potlucks) - Simply Stacie (5)

Try my Pineapple Cake.

Sunshine Salad Recipe (Perfect for Potlucks) - Simply Stacie (6)

Rate this Recipe

4.48 from 134 votes

Sunshine Salad

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 6

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour

The brightest fruit salad filled with pineapple, bananas and mandarin oranges! This low-calorie option is perfect for summer with only 4 ingredients.

Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 fresh pineapple cored and cut into chunks
  • 1 can Mandarin oranges in light syrup 15oz can
  • 2 bananas peeled and sliced
  • 1 box Jell-O sugar free vanilla instant pudding 4 serving size

Instructions

  • Do not drain the oranges. Cut thepineapple and banana into chunks. Combine the fruit in a large bowl.

  • Sprinkle the dry pudding mix (do NOT add milk) over the top of the fruit. Mix well.

  • Refrigerate, covered for at least one hour. Serving size is one cup.

Video

Notes

You can also use vanilla instant pudding (not the sugar free option).

Original recipe from Confessions of an Overworked Mom.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.1g | Protein: 1.4g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 34.3mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 15g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course Salads

Cuisine American

Keyword fruit salad, sunshine salad, weight watchers

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FAQs

How to make a salad that actually tastes good? ›

12 Easy Ways to Make Salad Taste Amazing – Seriously
  1. Make Your Salad a Spectacle. ...
  2. Mix and Match Leaves. ...
  3. Upgrade Your Salad Dressings. ...
  4. Massage Your Salad Greens. ...
  5. Toss in Cooked Veggies. ...
  6. Add Fresh Herbs. ...
  7. Sweeten with Fruit. ...
  8. Heat Your Salad Dressing.
Mar 9, 2022

What can I put in my salad to keep me full? ›

How to Make a Filling Salad: 10 tips
  1. Build a base with greens.
  2. Add other raw vegetables.
  3. Add roasted vegetables.
  4. Add pickled vegetables.
  5. Power up with protein.
  6. Go for grains.
  7. Flavor with fruits.
  8. Fill up with fats.
Mar 2, 2023

How do you make salad less boring? ›

A sweet or tart fruit gives salad a great flavour boost. In spring, try adding strawberries or grapefruit. In summer, try grilled or fresh stone fruit tossed through it. Apple, mango, pomegranate, watermelon, rockmelon and dried fruits are salad favourites.

What can I add to a salad to make it filling? ›

Try four ounces of one of the following:
  1. Beans like black, chickpeas (hummus), cannellini or adzuki.
  2. Chicken.
  3. Edamame.
  4. Eggs (over easy, soft boiled, or chopped hard boiled)
  5. Lean beef.
  6. Lentils.
  7. Reduced fat cheese.
  8. Seafood (sardines, tuna, shrimp, salmon)

Why do restaurant salads taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants salt their salads.

This resulted in every bite tasting vibrant and flavorful. "Season your salad just like you would anything else," Simpson said. "Salt is a big difference between salads at home and salads in a restaurant." This doesn't mean you have to make your salads salty!

How do restaurants make salads so crisp? ›

The Keys to Crisp Lettuce

Lettuce actually needs a good amount of airflow, in addition to a bit of moisture (but not too much!), in order to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge.

What are the three keys to a quality salad? ›

The three keys to ensuring a quality salad are:
  • The freshness of ingredients.
  • Having all the ingredients blend together in harmony.
  • Making sure the salad is appealing to the eye.

What is the healthiest salad dressing? ›

8 Simple and Healthy Salad Dressings
  1. Sesame ginger. This simple salad dressing doubles as an easy marinade for meat, poultry, or roasted veggies. ...
  2. Balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  3. Avocado lime. ...
  4. Lemon vinaigrette. ...
  5. Honey mustard. ...
  6. Greek yogurt ranch. ...
  7. Apple cider vinaigrette. ...
  8. Ginger turmeric.
Jul 27, 2023

Why do I still feel hungry after eating a big salad? ›

If you're worried that salads are boring, DeLaurentis says that doesn't have to be the case: "A common misconception is that salads contain vegetables and nothing else, and eating them will leave you feeling unsatisfied and hungry." She recommends adding a protein, like cheese, tofu, beans, chicken or a boiled egg, to ...

What are the seven things that you should not do when preparing the salad? ›

Common Salad Mistakes
  1. Here are seven things you should NOT do when making salads: Too much dressing. ...
  2. Pouring on the dressing. ...
  3. Wet salad leaves. ...
  4. Not seasoning it. ...
  5. Subpar salad dressings. ...
  6. Uncreative toppings. ...
  7. Served in a bowl.
May 13, 2013

How do you pimp up salad? ›

One of the easiest ways to get some flavour in your salad is to mix up your leaves with bright herbs that pack a punch. Plants like parsley, dill, mint and coriander can really kick your salads up a notch and give them some (much needed) depth and can give a great dose of flavour in every bite.

Which lettuce is best for salad? ›

Romaine Lettuce

The crisp, elongated leaves of this lettuce are the main ingredient in classic Caesar salad.

What is the best salad to eat for weight loss? ›

10 Salad Recipes for Losing Weight (High in Protein)
  • Ranch Kale Salad with BBQ Tofu. ...
  • Salmon Quinoa Salad. ...
  • The Ultimate Chopped Mediterranean Salad. ...
  • Broccoli Edamame Protein Salad. ...
  • Berry Chicken Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette. ...
  • Vegetarian Chopped Salad with Boiled Eggs. ...
  • Rainbow Quinoa Salad Jars.
Jun 10, 2023

What can you use instead of croutons in a salad? ›

10 Healthy Alternatives to Croutons
  1. Roasted chickpeas. These offer a satisfying crunch and can be seasoned in various ways to mimic the flavor profile of croutons. ...
  2. Chopped nuts. ...
  3. Whole grain pita chips. ...
  4. Seeded crackers. ...
  5. Parmesan crisps. ...
  6. Toasted quinoa. ...
  7. Roasted pumpkin seeds. ...
  8. Sunflower seeds.

What are 5 types of other ingredients that can be used for salads? ›

Also, simple fruit salad can be served during a meal or as a sweet after a meal. You can use a range of fruit in season. You can use a range of other ingredients in salads, including: ▪ meat ▪ fish ▪ seafood ▪ nuts ▪ cheese ▪ olives ▪ eggs ▪ pasta ▪ rice.

Why does my salad taste bland? ›

Season the greens & vegetables

Your dressing or vinaigrette may be perfectly seasoned but when added to unseasoned or raw vegetables, the overall taste of the salad may turn out bland.

How do you make salad not taste bitter? ›

Add Vinaigrette, Emphasis on "Vinegar"

Acidity can really bring a pleasant flavor out of bitter greens. If they're being used for a salad, it's good to add a vinaigrette with plenty of acidity to brighten it up. If you are sauteing, add some vinegar or citrus to the greens to finish them off.

How do you improve salads? ›

For wonderful flavor, add mushrooms, onions, beets, avacado and green peppers. Get creative by combining an assortment of shapes, sizes and colors. Try different colors of favorite vegetables. Add a burst of color with white, yellow, red or purple carrots; try purple, green or yellow tomatoes.

References

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