Fuel yourself with a refreshing, healthy salad

This holiday season, if you’re craving something at least as delicious as pecan pie and a good bit healthier, head for Aloha Salads. That’s where you’ll find a mouthwatering selection of signature salads, subs, and wraps, priced reasonably and filled with crisp, fresh greens and a wonderful variety of nutritious ingredients.

Field greens from the North Shore; tomatoes from Hauula; ahi caught fresh in Hawaiian waters by local fishermen using sustainable methods — only the best ingredients find their way into the food prepared at Aloha Salads. All of the dressings and breads are made without the use of hydrogenated oils or trans fats. The pita bread is entirely fat and sugar-free. And all of the salads are colorful, elaborate, and delicious — obviously created by somebody who views them as something of an art form.

“I love salads!” says owner Sara Lufrano with enthusiasm. Lufrano and her husband, Chris, a former options trader, left careers in Chicago to launch Aloha Salads in May 2006. They now have six locations on Oahu and one in Tokyo, Japan. Their menu includes salads like The Satay (red & white cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, romaine, basil, cilantro, green onions, wonton chips, peanuts, and spicy satay dressing), The Paniolo (grape tomatoes, romaine, avocado, jicama, black beans, corn, green onions, cheddar and cilantro), and 11 other tempting options, plus an assortment of appealing wraps and subs.

Aloha Salads’ rewards program is a big hit with regular customers, reports Lufrano, who adds that guests can now expedite their orders through Aloha Salads’ web-site. “Simply choose your favorite location, place an order and pay online; your order will be waiting when you arrive,” she says.

Speaking of rewards, here’s something to motivate a New Year’s resolution: Aloha Salads’ Weight Loss Challenge. “Everybody’s on a diet in January!” Lufrano chuckles. “People can weigh in anytime on or after

Jan. 2, 2020. The challenge lasts for three months, and at the end, whoever has lost the greatest percentage of body weight will win!”

The first prize: an Aloha Salads gift card for $500.

THAT’S A WRAP!

Some foods are so delicious that it’s practically impossible to remember that they’re actually quite healthy. The simply ono Hummus Pita Wrap ($9.75) is a warm pita stuffed with delectable hummus, feta cheese, dill, grape tomatoes, bell pepper, sundried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, cucumber, red onions, and Mediterranean dressing. It’s even better than it sounds!

ALOHA PASSION

If you’re passionate about fabulous salads, this one might be the one you crave! This delectably complex creation begins with mixed field greens, and continues with ingredients like mangoes, red grapes, apples, cranberries, and blue cheese. It’s finished irresistibly with candied glazed walnuts made in-house, and housemade passion-orange vinaigrette. The price is right, too: $9 small; $11 large; $13.75 with grilled steak.

KAMUELA COBB

This salad (small/$9.75; large/$12.25) features mixed field greens, grape tomatoes, hardboiled eggs, bacon, grilled chicken breast, bleu cheese, avocado, and a housemade herb ranch dressing.

DON’T DITCH THE FISH

On an island in the middle of the Pacific, what could be fresher than a salad made with ahi, caught by Hawaii fishermen in Hawaiian waters? The Ono Island Ahi (small $10.50; large $14.50) is a masterpiece.