Make Your Own Salad Bar!

So in the middle of planning another salad-for-dinner night, I became burdened with the inevitable onslaught of complaints:

“But, mom, I only like the GREEN stuff in my salad.”

“Ewwwww! Mom, Remember, I don’t like the un-guns.” (onions)

And while salads full of romaine and spinach and cabbage are rather healthy, they can get boring quickly for my husband and I.

So it kinda hit me that afternoon…like the wooden box of alphabet letters hit my head when I opened the freezer door. Because, I hadn’t pushed that box quite far enough back….

Ouch.

So the idea – which isn’t much of an idea at all – more of an enlightenment age right in my very kitchen – was to make up a salad bar. For my family.

This is genius for two reasons.

First, my kids can put in exactly what they like. I give them an instruction like, “You need to add at least two vegetables.” – which gives them an immediate opportunity for choosing what they think is completely inedible, and eliminating it. Those awful red onions. Bleh.

Second, it’s easier for me. I don’t have to toss it. You know how much work that can be. Tossing salads. I’m already working out daily. Who needs to add more routines to the workout?

So, try this. Put out a bowl of greens and add some bowls of color around it. (Fresh grated cheese always helps.) Notice the hand caught in the cheese bowl there….

Add some frozen chicken tenders if you feel the need. Or cook up some bacon. Or boil some eggs. Add some fruit and nuts. Go ahead – clean out the fridge before you end up throwing that produce away!

See what kind of salad love you start hearing.

Bonus: Some of my favorite homemade salad dressings are from Heavenly Homemakers. I use her ranch all the time!