Supergranny flies out and Naughty Nana flies in. It's all change on the grandparenting front. So far the naughtiness has been contained no feeding jelly beans to the kids and no tongue-in-cheek gifts for the lovely husband. (Last time, an apron that said “health food makes me sick”. Hmmm.) I am not sure how long the good behaviour will last, especially as Nana is doing an overnight babysit for us. There's a good chance of low-level corruption in my absence, but I am not sure I mind. I will give anything for one night of freedom!Now although Nana might slip in the occasional (?) treat, she's very healthy on a day-to-day basis. In fact, she and the LH share a fascinating obsession with salads. I say fascinating because they also like BBQ spare ribs and three-cheese pizza. I find it even more amazing because I don't really like salad … and I'm the nutritionist. And before you recoil back in mock horror, let me explain myself. I'm not really a fan of salad because I'm not really a fan of salad leaves. It's all a little bit too much like eating grass. There, I said it.Having said that, I am a big fan of the things in salads avocados, peppers, smoked salmon, grilled artichokes, feta cheese, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, cranberries … the list goes on. And that's why I eat a lot of salad the leaves are really just a vehicle for the good stuff. Of course, while there's not much nutritional value in a bowl of iceberg, the darker green leaves are packed with nutrients so that gives me some added incentive, but only some.Ultimately, if you want to eat a healthy diet over the long term, you have to enjoy it. Humans are sensory creatures of comfort and no one is going to stick to a boring diet forever. I once heard someone say “nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels”. Er, have they never had hot chocolate brownies with chocolate ice cream?More seriously though, if you have ever suffered with your health, the point above will ring true for you. The one advantage of experiencing serious or inhibiting illness at an early age is that it gives you a sense of perspective when it comes to your health. In reality, once you have been threatened with losing your health or your life, the feel good factor of a chocolate brownie, compared to the feel good factor of seeing another day, is less significant.But the majority of us don't have that perspective. And our human attachment to the “feel good factor” (and the manipulation of our tastebuds by the junk food industry) makes it difficult for us to make healthy choices over the long term. This means that if you're trying to get more salad into your family this summer, you'll need to come up with something more imaginative than a bowl of iceberg.So at the request of my inbox, and following on from last week's “Superfood Salads” here's another idea for you to try. This one is delicious and fantastic as a BBQ side. Give it a try!Roasted vegetable salad with balsamic vinegar and honeySuperfoods: squash, peppers and garlicButternut squash is a big favourite in our house and this makes a great, low carb side for a barbecue. Squash, just like pumpkin and carrots, contains a high level of beta-carotene and other antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C and zinc. It's also high in fibre which helps to lower cholesterol and clear toxins from the bowel.Red, yellow and orange bell peppers all contain lots of vitamin C, vital for the formation of collagen. Collagen helps skin to stay plump and supple good then for its anti-ageing properties! A single bell pepper contains approximately 350mg of vitamin C, compared to an 8oz glass of orange juice which typically contains less than 100mg. The red, yellow and orange peppers also contain a high level of beta-carotene and lycopene protective against cancers of the bladder, cervix, prostate, colon and pancreas. Note: green bell peppers are still healthy, but contain fewer nutrients.Finally, garlic is rich in vitamin C and selenium two nutrients which protect the body from cancer and help to remove heavy metals from the body. Garlic is thought to reduce blood pressure, lower bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raise good HDL cholesterol. It also contains a high level of manganese a powerful antioxidant and has additional anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.Ingredients: (per person)1 large handful spinach leaves1 c peeled, chopped butternut squash (1 inch cubes)½ c mixed chopped peppers (red, orange, yellow)1 clove garlic, roughly chopped1 tsp honey1 tsp balsamic vinegar2 tsp olive oilBlack pepperMethod:l Preheat the oven to 360Fl Stir together the garlic, honey, balsamic vinegar and olive oill Toss the squash and peppers in the dressingl Place in a roasting pan and cook for 35 minutes, or until the cubes of squash are tender. Turn the peppers/squash once, halfway through.l Once cooked, toss together with the spinach leaves, allowing the leaves to wilt a little. Season to taste and serve immediately.The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. She can be contacted at nourishbda[AT]gmail.com.