During the summer I instituted a salad night in my meal plan, and it was glorious. It meant a wholesome, veggie-packed dinner — sometimes with meat or beans or grains — that was super easy to pull together. Plus, it helped me clear out the crisper.

Summer is long gone, but my salad nights are not. Here are some of the favorites cycling through my meal plan this winter.

Hearty Green Salads

Winter is prime time for super-hearty greens, like kale, collards, and beet greens, and I love taking advantage of them for dinner salads. Even if a recipe doesn't call for them, go ahead and swap them in for delicate lettuces or spinach.

Lettuce-Free Salad

I always like to remind myself that salad is not synonymous with leafy greens. The two do not have to go hand in hand — any vegetable can play the part of salad base. Any type of spiralized veggies, broccoli slaw, and roasted veggies all make great options.

Grain Salads

I eat grain salads year-round, but I especially love them during the winter months. Toothsome farro, quinoa, and bulgur are great picks to give your dinner salad some heft to make it even more satisfying and filling.

Lentil and Bean Salads

Not only are beans and lentils packed with a punch of protein, but they also have a meaty texture that instantly makes salads taste more substantial.