SALADS - Must They Always Suck?
I don’t subscribe to the idea that being healthy means eating a tasteless salad everyday with plain dressing and enough raw vegetables to think you’re Bugs Bunny screaming, “Whats up Doc? AND WHERE THE REST OF MY FOOD??” However, I do begrudgingly understand that a healthy meal often means a plate full of vegetables and that usually means a salad. So.. how can we make this appealing?
Defining A “Good” Salad
When I started researching the different “classic” salads at restaurants and what makes them unique, I found a pattern of traditional add-ins to make up a salad worthy of ordering on a first date when you’re not quite ready to devour a burger in front of a crush.
Optional Protein - Whether it’s chicken, shrimp or even tofu, the added protein can hold hunger at bay until it’s time for the the next meal.
Grains - Whether it was quinoa, a handful of croutons or the bread that they leave on the table that just stares…. silently.. waiting for it’s next victim, there is usually a carb option.
Personalized Fruits & Veggies - Avocados are jolly green delights, tomatoes are cheeky cuties and I worship the fork that combines the two to make guacamole. I just don’t think any of these treats belong on a salad for me to eat. Everyone has their own aversions and thats why salad toppings are everyones choice to make.
Lettuce Combinations - Restaurants tend to do a mixture of different types of lettuce in an effort to appease the many different preferences for salad. This is the make or break when people are choosing between salads. So nailing down which types of lettuce I was willing to eat was the beginning of creating delicious recipes.
Salad Dressing
I didn’t include dressing because I think choosing is a very divisive topic and also there are no more dressings to be invented. They all exist and they’re fantastic. So I’ve included links to dressings that aren’t too complicated and are easy to make.
Tips & Tricks
So there will be other vegetables that you might enjoy or have more ways to spice up your own salad. Please share those in the comments! Otherwise, here are tips and tricks to finishing off a great salad and continuing a health plan that you can talk about at the holidays instead of your unknown career goals (maybe projecting?).
Wait to add any wet vegetables/salad dressing until you’re ready to eat your salad. Those ridiculously small tuppaware you see in stores and think “Those are just a waste of money!” well buckle up buttercup. Also for those on a budget, a plastic baggy also does the trick.
Add what you need, not what you want. Listen, I get it. Salads can leave you wanting that cheeseburger or hangry like you’re Chelsea Handler in anything Chelsea Handler does. However, if you’re committing to the salad, commit to the salad and be wary of too many high calorie add-ins.
Plan for a snack. For me, the biggest problem with salads is that 2 hours later, I’m ready for second lunch. Then the effort and mental congradulations go out the window, along with my mood. So with a healthy snack planned like a yogurt or a pack of almonds, the effort is still rewarded.
