A hearty side or lunch salad, this farro salad with honey-roasted garlic tomatoes, asparagus, and kale is a celebration of healthy eating!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Soffe. All opinions are 100% mine.

farro salad with honey-roasted tomatoes, asparagus, and kale

Can I tell you a grave truth?

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Somewhere in-between Daylight Savings Time ending, Christmas cookie season, and the twentieth day of “feels like -15” temperatures, I stopped running. Just, stopped. Cold turkey.

It started as excuses – it was too cold or I wanted to go to Zumba instead or I had left work too late and it was too dark or if I went for a run, I wouldn’t have time to cook dinner and then we would starve.

Then, after a while, I didn’t even bother with excuses. I just didn’t do it.

And it was so not me.

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I honestly didn’t realize how much of a funk not running was putting me in until this past weekend when I laced up my sneakers and hit the pavement. Sure, it was cold and it hurt, but it was also amazing and freeing and exactly what I needed. It wasn’t my best time or my longest run, but it was a start – a building block – and it can only get better from there.

There are a few reasons why I chose NOW to start running, the first and foremost being “why NOT now?”. I felt like the more I made excuses and the longer I went without just doing it, the less likely it would be for me to ever do it again. So I just did it.

The second is that I signed the.boy and I up for a half marathon! (Well, I signed up and then he felt guilty for not signing up…so then he signed up, too.) We’ll be running the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May!!! Apparently you can’t just wake up and run 13.1 miles, so training is happening.

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The third reason came in the form of these pretty! new! workout clothes from Soffe! I mean, it would be a shame for all of Central Park not to see me in those awesome rainbow striped pants, don’t you think?

Soffe athletic wear and I actually have quite a history. Their cloth shorts were the thing to wear to gym class when I was in high school, but only if you rolled down the waistband 2-3 times. I have no idea why this was a thing, but it was. It really was.

This connection is a funny coincidence in a way, because back then I hated exercise and gym class and anything that made me sweat. I saw my Soffe shorts as a cute accessory rather than functional athletic apparel.

Oh, how times have changed.

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If I could shake my former self and tell her to take cardio kickboxing instead of yoga every semester, then I would.

But instead I just need to move forward and make up for lost time…by getting my sweat on as much and as often as possible. It’s been over a decade since my high school days, but I am still wearing Soffe athletic-wear – now for different reasons. Sure, it’s still cute and fashionable (which I LOVE – it always makes me feel good to put on a pair of crazy colorful workout pants), but it’s also super comfortable, easy to move in, and fits perfectly. Basically, it fulfills all of my workout clothing needs, and I love that Soffe understands that being feminine and athletic shouldn’t and don’t have to be mutually exclusive! Being strong is sexy, and we shouldn’t ever forget it!

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(GIRL POWER.)

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For more healthy living/workout inspiration, check out Soffe’s Facebook page and Soffe’s Instagram account!)

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Of course, now that I’m running and in training again, I can’t sit around and eat cookies all day. (Well, I could, but it would make for some pretty terrible runs.) I’ve learned that the better I eat, the better I perform on my runs, and the better I feel about myself…so I have recommitted to healthy eating, which is where this salad comes in.

Packed with protein-rich farro, sweet and savory roasted vegetables that have been dressed in a honey-garlic vinaigrette, and earthy kale for crunch, it is highly nutritious and absolutely delicious. I like to have it for lunch on days when I know I’m going to go running because it keeps me fueled to the end of my workout, but it would also work as a heartier side dish or light dinner!

Farro Salad with Honey-Roasted Garlic Tomatoes, Asparagus, and Kale
 
A hearty side or lunch salad, this farro salad with honey-roasted garlic tomatoes, asparagus, and kale is a celebration of healthy eating!
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1½ tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 12 oz cherry tomatoes, halved lengthwise
  • 1½ cups farro
  • 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
  • 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 8 oz feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 375F.
  2. In a large bowl, toss together the olive oil, honey, garlic, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, or until tomatoes begin to become wrinkled and soft.
  3. Meanwhile, place the farro in a medium saucepan and cover with water, leaving 2 inches of water above the farro. Season with salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, or until chewy. Drain and then toss with the kale.
  4. In a large bowl, toss together the farro, kale, roasted vegetables, sherry vinegar, salt, and feta cheese. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Notes
Adapted from Cooking Light
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 bowl

 More whole grain salads:

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Rice Salad with Nuts, Chickpeas, and Sour Cherries

roasted asparagus zucchini and halloumi salad

Roasted Asparagus, Zucchini, and Halloumi Salad

warm fava shallot barley salad

Warm Fava, Shallot, and Barley Salad

From Around the Web:

Israeli Couscous Salad with Asparagus, Artichokes and Spinach from Two Peas And Their Pod

Peach and Roasted Vegetable Salad from Love & Olive Oil

Fiery Fruit and Quinoa Salad from Oh My Veggies

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Farro Salad with Honey-Roasted Tomatoes, Asparagus, and Kale
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39 Responses to Farro Salad with Honey-Roasted Garlic Tomatoes, Asparagus, and Kale {#TheStrengthIsInUs}

  1. Sune Moolman says:

    I love that pink on you, it’s gorgeous!
    This salad looks super healthy – I’m in. 🙂

  2. The salad looks super duper delicious with all the great veggies. You look so FIT and beautiful in the rainbow striped pants, Jo.

  3. Trisha says:

    I feel ya. I usually get in a winter running funk too. It’s hard to be motivated when it’s so dang cold outside. I think those cute rainbow leggings will inspire you to add on the miles, and this gorgeous farro salad will give you energy!

  4. I hear you…I trained and ran my first 5K last year and really never felt better, but then I let my running go this winter. I signed up for a new training program to begin in a couple weeks and I couldn’t be more excited! This athletic attire will certainly help to keep me motivated..along with this salad!

  5. 1) This dish looks incredibly yummy.
    2) Love those workout pants!!! And you look great 🙂

  6. SO True! Girl power is what we all need! Great salad and perfect before a run!

  7. I love how you started running again with “why not now?”…EXACTLY!! I stopped running a few years ago (just before we met, actually) and then took it up again simply because I could. You go girl!! You’re a champ! And a gorgeous one at that 😉

  8. OMG those leggings, SO cute! Cute workout clothes really are the best motivation. Hmm, maybe I should get some new ones….

  9. Pam says:

    Good for you for getting back out there! The new clothes are super cute. Love this farro salad – anything with roasted veggies makes this girl happy.

  10. Monica says:

    Some good workout clothes is a good motivator; I think I need to try that! ; ) And this farro salad…I don’t need any reason to want that! I love farro and it just goes so well with everything you have going on. Whenever I’m traveling, I’m always hoping to find something like this for lunch…wishful thinking most times.

  11. Cailee says:

    YUM! This looks amazing! I love how you added fresh greens to a cooked grain dish! What a great, healthy idea!! 🙂

  12. mira says:

    Your marathon preparation sounds like fun! This salad looks perfect! Love the pink on you 🙂

  13. joanne, this farro salad sounds amazing! and i totally remember the soffe short obsession too. i still have a pair, but they are a later version so not the same ones i wore in high school. haha. i wear them for pajamas now 🙂

  14. I have a confession – I am a farro virgin! Never had it but now that you’ve provided this ultra cool recipe I have to give it a shot.

    You arr smokin’ hot in that pink and striped running gear!

  15. Yay for running again – I did that for the first time this weekend too – though it was in the 70’s here! You are welcome to come down and enjoy this warm weather – if you bring me some of that warm farro salad – seeing I’ve never made farro, I might botch it up!

  16. Congrats for getting back to it, Joanne! And this salad looks like the perfect fuel…(delicious too!)

  17. Yay for running again. And double yay for cute workout clothes. This salad looks like the perfect thing to fuel your body for your marathon training.

  18. I completely relate Joanne! I went through a work out funk myself and now I am scared again because I got another Tough Mudder coming up! So I need to get my ass in shape and get sweating!

    This salad looks like EXCELLENT fuel! LOVE it!

  19. Zainab says:

    I NEED your motivation. I’ve been in a funk for too long and much of the same reasons. Maybe I need to shop these cute clothes and eat this salad to get going again!

  20. Kate says:

    I’m revamping my running wardrobe right now – just invested in maternity gear. But I’ll look into Soffe when I’m back in regular sizes!

  21. Mmmm, farro! Love all the flavors here and how full of veggies it is. Those running pants are too cute! Good luck with your marathon training…luckily the nice weather is on its way 😉

  22. Your salad are always so interesting – Joanne.

  23. Good for you for getting back into running! At least you kept doing Zumba or something though. If I exercised outside, I would never do it. I’m not up for the elements 😉 This salad will definitely fuel my workouts well.

  24. Mary says:

    Oh good for you for getting those sneakers back on!!! love the running clothes – I’m going to check the website and see if I can find anything for yoga:)) LOVE the salad. My pickiest eater adores farro !!!! she probably won’t eat the asparagus or kale but the farro is a great start!
    Mary

  25. Kelly says:

    Love the cute outfit and yay for running again! This long brutal winter has been getting hasn’t been very motivating for staying active. Love farro and this salad! It’s the perfect meal after a workout!

  26. I’m not a yoga person either. I’ve taken cardio classes and loved them so much more. You look amazing girl.

    Kay of Pure & Complex
    http://www.purecomplex.com

  27. I love the material of those leggings! Yay on signing up on the half-marathon, and good luck with the training! I’m thinking of signing up for another one this year, but it will definitely take me a bit longer to get used to running again. I feel you on the first run being the hardest. I remember my first 3 mile run a month after running a half, and I was sooo slow and tired by the end of it. I’m sure once you shake out those kinks, you’ll be marathon-fit in no time. Eating nutritious foods like this totally helps too, of course!

  28. Good kick in the butt post about excuses. Love the work out clothes. It may be healthy, but it sure still looks delish—speaking of the salad of course.

  29. ive got to try honey roasted garlic. that sounds lovely in this gorgeous dish

  30. Just fabulous work-out clothes … I love those stripy pants!
    It really IS hard to run in the cold, isn’t it? Just these last few days it has warmed up around here a bit, so I really am running out of excuses to hit the tarmac, too …
    As for the salad, well, you are making me jealous. I’ve been trying to find some farro for about the last week but just can’t. The search goes on …
    Salad sounds wonderful, though … asparagus, honey & feta … mmm, heaven …

  31. Johanna GGG says:

    Onya for getting into running – I had my first longer bike ride (which is not that long) this year yesterday and I chose the wild rice and kale salad at the cafe and it felt really good. I love your healthy salads and this one looks delicious

  32. Good for you to get back to running. Love the running clothes, they look great on you. the salad looks wonderful too,

  33. Your post is so timely! I fell off the running wagon after Christmas (not during December…after. How weird is that?) And I’ve been feeling heavy, and lethargic, and blah. And last night I’d had enough. So, I got on the treadmill today and killed 5 miles. Felt awesome. I’m back at it again tomorrow. Minus the super cute Soffe outfit. Sadly.

  34. hey!!! congrats on signing up for the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May!!! I ran a half in San Francisco back in 1999. . that was when I was in my prime and running like everyday. . loved it. . lost a couple toe nails during training. . good times. Ah, I love running and I LOVE those striped pants!!! LOVE them! totally going to check out Soffe!! and this farro salad .. amazing!!

  35. Julia says:

    Oh my gahhhh that running get-up is cuh-ute!!! I’d be inspired to run more if I had fashionable garb as well. And who could blame you for taking a breather from running when it’s so dang cold outside? I’m amazed people have the bravery to stay active out there!

    Thiiiiissalad…want it! All thems asparagi shall be miiiiiine! 😉

  36. Eileen says:

    This sounds go good! Vegetables and hearty grains — such a great, simple combination.

  37. Great post! This farro salad looks wonderful! I have totally given up running in the winter with the same excuses. I look forward to getting back to running!

  38. I need some of that training gear. Good luck with your running Joanne 🙂

  39. Courtney says:

    Oh my gosh. I totally rocked double rolled Soffe shorts in middle and high school. That seems like ages ago (uh, because it was…). I always thought it was an Alabama/Deep South thing. Go figure.

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