Salad Bar for Lunch? What do you put in it ????

Lazz5k
Lazz5k Posts: 251 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I have a great salad bar at work - but what DO YOU PUT IN YOUR SALAD. . . what are the best options, what do you like????

Replies

  • MaryCS62
    MaryCS62 Posts: 266 Member
    If it's only going to be a salad -- plenty of greens (field greens or at least romaine, if they have it, not iceberg), any raw veggies I like --carrots, broccoli, radishes. Some form of protein, usually beans- 1/2 cup. Olives cause I love them! Usually not cheese, b/c it's a little too high in fat for me, unless there's feta. Oil & balsamic vinegar, or a light vinaigrette. Maybe a tablespoon or 2 of chow mein noodles, for the crunch. If I remembered to bring an orange or pear from home, I like to cut that up in it too. I don't care for the heavy creamy dressings, so it's easy to skip those.
  • Swiftlet66
    Swiftlet66 Posts: 729 Member
    Favorite salad topping combination: black grapes, walnuts, and goat cheese. Other than that, I usually eat a salad with juicy watery fruits like oranges and cherry tomatoes or grapes with some type of nut and cheese. I love baby romaine lettuce as my greens and carrots too.
  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
    edited December 2014
    Baby spinach, chicken, mushrooms, and a hard boiled egg are pretty much a staple of my salads at the grocery store salad bar. Then, depending on how I feel, I'll add other stuff to it, and maybe top it with olive oil if it will fit into my calories for the day.

    I'll generally take a side of fruit which is grapes and/or strawberries.
  • AngryViking1970
    AngryViking1970 Posts: 2,847 Member
    Chickpeas, cheese, banana peppers, olives and lots of veg; I don't typically put lettuce in my salads. LOL
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    Lettuce, baby spinach, carrots, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, sunflower seeds, turkey, croutons. No dressing (ew). Now I want Souper Salad. They have blueberry bread.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Bacon and steak.
  • NK1112
    NK1112 Posts: 781 Member
    A combination of the greens they have available, a few slices of cucumber and mushrooms, 3 or 4 tomato bits (or grape tomatoes), a couple of tablespoons of the beans they have ... black or garbanzo ... a couple of tablespoons of chopped egg if they have it, a tablespoon of sunflower seed if it's available. Top it with half a ladle of oily dressing or sprinkle on some oil and vinegar.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Lots of dark green leafs. I know what 3oz of chicken looks like, so I do that. Maybe 1 egg if it's sliced up. Raw veggies like carrots, mushrooms, cucumber and peppers. A spoonful of chic peas if they have them. And about 1/4 cup of cheese. I like feta, but most salad bars have the crappy shredded cheddar. Top it with a spoonful of sunflower seeds and dried cranberries. I refuse to give up creamy dressings because I just don't like oily based ones. But I make sure to only put on about 2 tablespoons. That's about a 300-400 calorie salad right there. But it leaves me full and satisfied all afternoon :)
  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    I don't have one at work, but I do occasionally hit the local grocery store for a salad at lunchtime if I didn't bring a lunch for some reason. I usually will do plenty of field greens and spinach, pepper strips, broccoli, cucumbers, pepperoncini and artichoke hearts if they have them, and blue cheese. Then it depends on what they have - I'll add chicken if they have it, and usually just a tiny taste of some kind of pasta salad or something (just to make it interesting). At Whole Foods I always add their marinated mushrooms and a bit of quinoa tabbouleh. Typically no croutons or other toppings (though, if there's real bacon, always bacon). I always use olive oil and red wine or balsamic vinegar for dressing.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Typically all kinds of veggies with a bit of cheese, egg, bacon and some ham or chicken for protein. Just got to be careful with the dressing, typically I get the light ranch or something (would just put vinegar if they had it though).
  • MelanieRBrace
    MelanieRBrace Posts: 245 Member
    I have a salad bar at work and I put in romaine lettuce, spinach, roasted chicken and a light dressing or a calorie-wise dressing I brought from home. With all the options it sounds boring but it is super satisfying and simple to me.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Well, if I had an awesome salad bar at work I'd mix it up every day. Some type of protein if it was offered, but otherwise if there were a good mix of options it would not be the same every day. I like variety in my meals.
  • Mycophilia
    Mycophilia Posts: 1,225 Member
    There's no salad bar where I work, but my high school has one. I remember putting nothing but cheese and ham in a bowl and calling it salad lol.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    My salads are simple. The grocery store near work has a salad bar. I add a variety of greens - romaine, spinach and usually some iceberg. Tomatoes, cucumbers, maybe broccoli or edamame. Depends on how it looks! I keep cheese & dressing at the office. That way I can weigh out the more calorie dense items, and I don't pay $5.99/pound for them!
  • lmr0528
    lmr0528 Posts: 427 Member
    edited December 2014
    I'm horrible when it comes to salad bars. I suddenly feel the need to put in a little bit of every single thing on there that I like. By the end, it's a good possibility that I'll end up with 4 different kinds of meats and 5 different cheeses. But, I do always have the usual romaine, broccoli, cukes, tomatoes, croutons. I try to avoid salad bars.
  • avoidtheclapp107
    avoidtheclapp107 Posts: 49 Member
    I just want a job with a salad bar!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    edited December 2014
    A lot of the standards, and always something like red beans, chickpeas, edamame... and a few sunflower seeds. I avoid the pasta salad, potato salad etc. Not worth the calories for me.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    More ranch than I should consume.
  • CarrieCans
    CarrieCans Posts: 381 Member
    edited December 2014
    Iceberg lettuce, chick peas, hard boiled egg and ham. With a tiny bit of lite italian dressing. That's my favorite salad bar combo but i have no idea if it's actually any good for you.

    I forgot the mushrooms!
  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    My FAVORITE- spinach with dried cranberries, candied pecans, feta cheese, cucumber, faux chicken, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Drooling now.
  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    rbfdac wrote: »
    My FAVORITE- spinach with dried cranberries, candied pecans, feta cheese, cucumber, faux chicken, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Drooling now.

    I guess I need to adjust for a "salad bar" though--- I like sunflower seeds, peas, broccoli, zucchini strips, croutons, cheese, and ranch (!) dressing.

  • numinousnymph
    numinousnymph Posts: 249 Member
    olives, cucumber, cherry/grape tomatoes, artichoke hearts, red onion, tangerine/mandarin slices, peppercini, beets, broccoli... yes, all of those at once, lol... and if i have the calorie allowance for it, dried cranberries and sunflower seeds or chopped walnuts! spring mix is always better than chopped romaine, in my opinon, but the salad bar near my work doesn't have spring mix.
  • cruzmom123
    cruzmom123 Posts: 72 Member
    Romaine lettuce, crumbled feta cheese, grape tomatoes, black olives and a low calorie vingarette dressing. When I want to change it up a bit, I add grilled chicken cubes (usually the Tyson brand)
  • sheepotato
    sheepotato Posts: 600 Member
    edited December 2014
    It depends on what's in season but I guess a typical salad made at home would be;

    Baby Spinach, Kale and Bibb Lettuce as the base
    Carrot shreds, Crimini mushroom slices, sliced cherry or roma tomatoes
    avocado slices, alfalfa or bean sprouts, cucumber slices, peas
    Unsalted Sunflower seeds, Walnuts or Cashews
    Dried cherries and goat cheese or feta crumbles
    Sliced boiled egg or Grilled Chicken
    Raspberry or Balsamic Vinaigrette

    For salad bars, I look for equivalents and add olives and usually eat some fruit slices if they have them around. Unless it's by weight then I skip the tomatoes and dressing. I don't like to eat eggs, ham bacon or the mixed noodle or whatever salads off salad bars. I will occasionally eat hummus with carrot sticks with or after my salad if it's at Jason's deli.
  • Lazz5k
    Lazz5k Posts: 251 Member
    TheVirgoddess wrote: »
    Lettuce, baby spinach, carrots, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, sunflower seeds, turkey, croutons. No dressing (ew). Now I want Souper Salad. They have blueberry bread.

    Oh how I wish I could saw EW to dressing. Your strong :)
  • Lazz5k
    Lazz5k Posts: 251 Member
    cruzmom123 wrote: »
    Romaine lettuce, crumbled feta cheese, grape tomatoes, black olives and a low calorie vingarette dressing. When I want to change it up a bit, I add grilled chicken cubes (usually the Tyson brand)

    THAT'S MY KIND OF SALAD!!!!
  • Lazz5k
    Lazz5k Posts: 251 Member
    avoidtheclapp107 wrote: »
    I just want a job with a salad bar!

    Awhhhh lol come work with meeee!!!!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I imagine this plate, and load up on salad first.
    PlateMethod.jpg
    Keep it light on the dressing, a little cottage cheese for my dairy, a protein source, and a carbohydrate. Sunflower seeds sprinkled on top.
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