Salad ideas....? I'm getting bored!

JenMarie8781
JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
I have been eating a lot of salad lately and I am getting bored with it. I usually buy the iceberg salad mix in a bag... I think the brand is Dole. Anyway, I have noticed that no matter what I put on my salads they never taste as good as the salads you get at restaurants.... what's the deal? What is their secret? LoL. I LOVE salads from Subway. Yet, if I make a salad at home and put the same things on it that I get on a Subway salad, it does not taste as good! lol

Anyway, I was just wondering what toppings you all put on your salads. I need some new ideas!
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Replies

  • kiwi1855
    kiwi1855 Posts: 218 Member
    Spinach, mandarin oranges (the canned kind, either canned in water or no sugar added), raspberries, a handful of slivered almonds, and a raspberry vinaigrette. If you aren't lactose intolerant (I am... ), add goat cheese or feta as an extra. Very tasty!

    Edit: as for not tasting as good... I think the trick is that when you eat out, you don't have to make it! lol, j/k
  • I_GoT_ThIs
    I_GoT_ThIs Posts: 170 Member
    they don't taste as good as restaurants because restaurants put bacon and all that good stuff in it. :) Try getting the romaine lettuce mixes, then just adding stuff. I'll get the romaine and baby red mix, it comes in a big container, and then i'll add tomatoe, cucumber, celery and sometimes boiled egg. It's really good.
  • NicoleLyn1818
    NicoleLyn1818 Posts: 110
    I put shredded pepperjack cheese, pumpkin seeds, honey roasted sunflower seeds, chicken breast, peas (not canned ones), and chipotle ranch (or spicy ranch). YUM!!!! I've also in the past put venison sausage chunks, croutons, cauliflower (don't like raw broccoli so you'll never see me suggest that unless it's steamed!), etc. on it.
  • pfrancis246
    pfrancis246 Posts: 1
    I love to add berries to my salad like strawberries, blueberries and rasberries. Also, adding different cheeses like goat cheese and gorgonzola makes it delicous. Experiment with diffrent dressings and greens as well. Spring mix has much more variety and is better for you. Once you switch you won't miss the iceberg.
  • audram420
    audram420 Posts: 838 Member
    I absolutely love dried cranberries and red onions on my salad!!
  • JWoodyard07
    JWoodyard07 Posts: 55 Member
    I usually just get the head of lettuce, cut up a pepper, onion, english cucumber, take fat free shredded cheese, wonton strips, and add 4 oz of lean steak or chicken and put on low fat honey mustard dressing. I love it and could eat it everyday and I think it was only 300 calories and it filled me up til afternoon snack!
  • ReginasHorror
    ReginasHorror Posts: 423 Member
    Lettuce in those tubs never seem to taste as good to me either. Buy the iceburg letter head (it's cheeper) and spinach and just mix up your toppings and dressings! :)
  • LivLovLrn
    LivLovLrn Posts: 580 Member
    start with romaine lettuce! It is my favorite:) I think you should experiment with different veggies and see what you like. Plus if you make your own, you can change it up. I usually try to make a nice big salad and it lasts me several days.
  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    Thanks for all the good ideas!
  • LolasEpicJourney
    LolasEpicJourney Posts: 1,010 Member
    I find iceburg lettuce never tastes good. it tastes like crunchy water.. i like romaine or raw spinach leaves ... chopped up cucumber - maybe a little cherry/grape tomato.. try fancier dressings - stick to types of vinegarettes for a calorie/carb wise option
  • MrsZMartin
    MrsZMartin Posts: 165 Member
    I love salad, too! First, it's hard to make something taste as good as when someone else makes it. ::laugh: Second, iceburg is not the best choice for flavor or nutrients. I love the triple hearts blend from Fresh Express, along with baby spinach. For toppings, I mix it up between fruit, like blueberries, strawberries, apples, with walnuts and feta, or carrots, sugar snap peas, tomato, chickpeas, edamame, the possibilities are endless! I like to make a big salad over the weekend that I can pull from all week. I also focus on using a variety of toppings, and avoid dressing (I will sometimes put a bit of vinegar of a salad). Experiment! Good luck!
  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    I love red onions on everything! lol
  • horsepullerlovesme
    horsepullerlovesme Posts: 228 Member
    i love cottage cheese for the dressing and sprinkle of sunflower seeds, and cherry tomatoes cucmbers and apples.
  • Heather75
    Heather75 Posts: 3,386 Member
    Try different mixed greens.
  • krisney
    krisney Posts: 56
    Try these (of course in moderation)

    blue cheese or gorgonzola crumbles (just a teaspoon or two)
    dried cranberries or raisins
    thinly sliced almonds
    sunflower seeds
    radishes
    edamame
    blanched broccoli or cauliflower
    artichoke hearts
    a small side of cottage cheese
    tomato/cucumber diced
    2 oz of protein - I like flank steak or chicken
    frizzled onions (just a little sprinkle)
  • BeautifulScarsWECHANGED
    BeautifulScarsWECHANGED Posts: 749 Member
    bump
  • brewingaz
    brewingaz Posts: 1,136 Member
    I suggest just trying to toss different types of salad to find what one is less boring than others. Mix it up here and there.
  • Skinny_foodie
    Skinny_foodie Posts: 47
    Spinach
    Shredded Mozzerella
    Sliced strawberries
    Crutons
    Brianna's blush wine vinagarette

    Add a protien (Nuts, chicken, etc.)

    So good!
  • janetb21
    janetb21 Posts: 182 Member
    I don't know why, but salads are like that - they always taste so much better when someone else makes them!
  • kaytonp
    kaytonp Posts: 15 Member
    spinach, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrot, kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, cucumbers, bell peppers, balsamic vinaigrette, and low-fat cottage cheese....BIG salad, very filling. and delicious.
  • FitMama2013
    FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
    My favorite salad right now is spinach, avocado, tomatoes, chicken breast, and extra sharp white cheddar cheese with 2 tbsp ranch. DELICIOUS!
  • Mom2rh
    Mom2rh Posts: 612 Member
    Iceberg lettuce has very little food value. Romaine is a much better lettuce.

    http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/lettuce_info.htm

    Personally, I like salads other people make better too. ; ) But when I make my own I will throw in fresh spinach or other salad greens, whatever veggies I have. Avocado is good too as well as feta or some other flavorful cheese.
  • Serenifly
    Serenifly Posts: 669 Member
    I just made a cold quinoi salad yesterday - h ubby had it at a restaurant the other day ...

    Quinoi cook as regular, refridgerage so it chills
    Add
    Cucumber & Tomato (Tiny dices)
    1/2 cup freshly cut parsley

    Mix and eat! So good ... SOOO DARN GOOD! and so fresh tasting and smelling cuz of the cukes!
  • nurse_carolyn
    nurse_carolyn Posts: 348
    I love to put tuna (the flavoured kind) in my salads.....I also use my own oil and vinegar dressing as opposed to the bottled salad dressings. I either use balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar and olive oil.
  • Jackie_Snape80
    Jackie_Snape80 Posts: 152 Member
    Seasoning blends are great on salads. Try the salt-free blends on the salad. Also, try things other than dressings on salad. Maybe salsa, taco sauce(my personal favorite), hummus, spicy mustard mixed in. Try getting a head of fresh romaine(tastier and cheaper than those salad mixed you keep getting!) Mix up the veggies. Mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, yellow peppers(for a tangy sweet crunch!), broccoli, slices of bakes eggplant(with marinara as the "dressing") Seasoned beans also add a great taste. Fresh berries. The list goes on and on, really.
  • jbucci1186
    jbucci1186 Posts: 440 Member
    the secret is SODIUM lol and probably sugar (at least that's why i can't match the Hula Bowl from max and erma's when i try to make it at home)
  • speckledbandit
    speckledbandit Posts: 16 Member
    The salads in restaurants taste better because the greens are fresher and have cut and cleaned with water very recently. I like putting corn and guacamole on my salads. :)
  • RissaDean
    RissaDean Posts: 189 Member
    First of all - try romaine or mesclun (mixed) lettuce instead of iceberg. Way more nutrients and WAY better tasting :)

    Also, what sort of dressings do you like? I've tried several Kraft ones, and like sun-dried tomato viniagarette (spelling?), light honey dijon, and roasted red pepper.

    Check out some restaurant websites for salad combo ideas:

    - Applebees: grilled chicken + a few pecans + craisans
    - Feta cheese + grilled pork or chicken + greek dressing
    - BJ's Brewhouse: grilled breast of chicken, toasted almonds or crisp wontons, red bell peppers, green onions, mandarin oranges, sesame seeds and sesame dressing
    - Arby's: I like to use Tyson's popcorn chicken (basically little chicken nuggets) on top of a salad...just make sure to stay w/in the serving size. Then again, 9 popcorn bites over a salad = pretty good sized salad IMHO.

    Other things to try in a salad:
    - Low fat croutons taste pretty close to the same as regular ones, they just aren't as oily.
    - Leftover meats from last night's dinner: chicken, fish, shrimp, steak - pretty much anything except enchiladas can be stretched a bit further when put over a salad!

    Once you get a few combos you like, you could even write the ingredients of that salad on the dressing bottle with a sharpie. I have 3-4 bottles of dressing in my fridge at any one time, and in 2 mos there will be 3-4 new, different kinds :)
  • bflicker11
    bflicker11 Posts: 296
    OMG!!! Such great suggestions! Thanks to the original poster!!
  • JoyfulSparkle
    JoyfulSparkle Posts: 96
    I find iceburg lettuce never tastes good. it tastes like crunchy water.. i like romaine or raw spinach leaves ... chopped up cucumber - maybe a little cherry/grape tomato.. try fancier dressings - stick to types of vinegarettes for a calorie/carb wise option

    I agree, raw spinach.
    This year I also planted my greens, It made me more excited to eat them.
    And a salad spinner.... I think it's funny!
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