Gracie's Summertime Salad
- Madison Morris, MS, RDN
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Summer has officially arrived! With the turning of each new season, there is a new selection of fresh, seasonal produce available to us. I asked my dear friend, Gracie, to share a staple recipe from her household. This refreshing dish incorporates seasonal produce and makes for a nutrient-packed snack or a delicious side. It is truly a crowd-pleaser in her home (during the summer months and beyond!). Without further ado, allow me to introduce my friend Gracie and her household's current favorite, delicious and nutritious snack.
Gracie and Her Summertime Special:
Gracie is a mama of two and a professional ballet dancer. She's been a dancer her whole life, but she is currently relishing her new favorite role: Mama. While dance has taken a bit of a backseat, it is still a huge part of her life and she loves sharing the passion for it with her daughter. Gracie's Summertime Salad recipe reflects the way Gracie lives — with intention, creativity, and care. As a busy mom, she needs recipes that can keep up with real life. This salad is endlessly adaptable depending on what’s in the fridge, and it nourishes her whole family with a blend of flavor, color, and nutrition. From a nutritional perspective, it’s packed with plant-based fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats. It is also versatile and can be served as a snack, side, salad, or topping. And from a mom’s perspective? It’s easy, toddler-approved, and baby-friendly.
Gracie's Summertime Salad:
Serves: 2–4 | Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 ripe avocado, diced
2 Persian cucumbers, chopped
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cooked lentils (pre-cooked or canned work great)
½ cup marinated mozzarella balls (Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s are her favorites)
2 tablespoons pine nuts (Optional prep: Toasted)
Optional: fresh basil or shaved Parmesan
Olive oil, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
To serve:
Serve as a side, salad, topping, dip, or on slices of French or sourdough bread or toast.
Instructions
Optional Step: Toast the Pine Nuts. Heat a dry skillet over medium. Add pine nuts and toast, stirring occasionally, for 2–3 minutes until lightly browned and fragrant.
Chop and Assemble the Salad:In a large bowl, combine avocado, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, lentils, mozzarella, and pine nuts. Add any optional ingredients like basil or Parmesan.
Season and Dress:Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and gently toss to combine.
Serve:Spoon onto the crispy bread for an open-faced tartine or enjoy the salad on its own.
Nutritional Highlights
As a registered dietitian, I love how this simple dish covers so many bases for wellness and performance:
Lentils: Rich in plant-based protein and fiber to keep blood sugar stable and energy sustained — ideal for everyone from dancers to growing kids to busy moms.
Avocado: Full of healthy monounsaturated fats that support brain health, hormone balance, and skin integrity.
Tomatoes & Cucumbers: Hydrating and packed with antioxidants like vitamin C.
Mozzarella: A great source of calcium and protein. The marinated kind adds healthy fats and big flavor with minimal effort.
Pine Nuts: High in magnesium (important for muscle function) and vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant).
Olive Oil: Anti-inflammatory and heart-healthy — it also enhances absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in this salad or side.
Whole-grain sourdough or French bread: Adds satisfying texture and energizing carbs, and sourdough’s natural fermentation makes it easier to digest for many.
As a fellow ballerina and longtime friend of Gracie's — we danced side by side at Inland Pacific Ballet — I’ve always admired how seamlessly she balances dance and life. These days, her most cherished role is mama to two little ones, but dance still continuously pulses through her life. Whether she’s sharing pliés with her daughter in the living room, dancing in nature and national parks, or carving out moments of movement between naptimes and teaching schedules, Gracie continues to move through life and live with grace and intention — on and off the stage.
Gracie's Summertime Salad captures that spirit perfectly. This simple, nutrient-packed salad is a staple in her home — a dish she can whip up quickly, adjust on the fly, and enjoy with her family (bonus: her 3-year-old loves it, and she easily pulls out components for her 6-month-old). It’s fast, flexible, and nourishing. This recipe exemplifies “On Pointe Living.”
Will you try Gracie's Summertime Salad this summer? If so, let us know what you think @onpointeliving on Instagram. If you have a favorite recipe that is a regular in your household repertoire, we want to know. Reach out on Instagram for a chance to have your favorite recipe featured!
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