Have you guys heard about the Hot Girl Summer Salad? The salad promises to “snatch your waist” and help you lose weight for the summer.

As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I prefer to focus on building a healthy relationship with food and not viewing certain foods as a “magic weight-loss solution,” but that didn’t stop me from trying this veggie-filled recipe to see if it was actually yummy.

I ended up trying the recipe and posting my reaction video on TikTok, and, surprisingly, my video went viral. The Hot Girl Summer Salad recipe ended up being very tasty. My entire family enjoyed it, too. To make this salad a little bit more fulfilling, I suggested adding a nutritious source of fiber and protein, such as Success Tri-Color Boil-in-Bag Quinoa.

This quinoa is packed with protein, all nine essential amino acids and is a good source of fiber. It’s also very easy to make. Simply submerge one bag in water, bring the water to a boil and boil uncovered for 10 minutes. No measure, no mess.

To cook quinoa in the microwave, in a 2-quart, microwave-safe dish, submerge one bag of quinoa in about 4 cups (1 quart) of water. Microwave on high for approximately 15 minutes. Remove the bag with a fork and drain. Then cut open the bag and empty cooked quinoa into a serving dish.

Leftover salad can be stored in the fridge for three to four days tightly covered and sealed.

Hot Girl Summer Salad with Quinoa. (Andrea Mathis / Beautiful Eats & Things)

Hot Girl Summer Salad with Quinoa

Click here for a printable version.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pack Success Tri-Color Boil-in-Bag Quinoa
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cucumber, chopped
• ¼ cup diced red onions
• ¼ cup chopped banana peppers
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• ¼ cup Italian dressing

Instructions

1. Prepare 1 pack of quinoa according to the package directions and set aside.
2. Combine the bell peppers, cucumber, onions and banana peppers in a large bowl.
3. Toss in the sunflower seeds, seasonings and Italian Dressing.
4. Fold in the quinoa and serve chilled or at room temperature.

 Andrea Mathis is a registered dietitian and owner of Beautiful Eats & Things. For more great recipes, visit beautifuleatsandthings.com.