How To Create A Salad Bar At Home

Opting for the salad bar over a burger and fries at lunchtime might be a wise choice for your waistline, but can be a costly habit.

Creating a salad bar in your fridge at home is easy if you shop for and prepare your fixings on the weekends. When it’s time to make lunch, all you have to do is throw together your favorite combinations!
Start with your favorite greens and then add whatever you’re in the mood for. Bagged salad greens can be a lifesaver – and the difference between packing a healthy lunch and picking something up from the food court. Wash and cut your vegetables, fruits and proteins, and store them in airtight containers.
Incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables and protein into each salad will ensure your lunch is balanced. Adding a cup of soup or a carton of milk will keep you full all afternoon.

Fruits & vegetables
• Sliced or cherry tomatoes
• Grated zucchini and cabbage
• Baby carrots
• Berries
• Cucumber slices
• Chunks of apple and pears
• Asparagus spears
• Sweet peppers
• Mushrooms
• Cut broccoli florets
• Boiled or roast potatoes, in bite-sized pieces
• Peach slices

Protein
• Poached or roasted chicken
• Thinly sliced turkey sausage
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Cheese, cubed or crumbled
• Bacon bits
• Sliced smoked salmon
• Marinated tofu
• Cooked beans
• Cans of tuna
• Avocado slices

Everything else
• Croutons
• Nuts and seeds
• Tortellini or ravioli pasta
• Dried fruit
• Cooked grains like bulgur or quinoa
• Fresh herbs like basil, dill or cilantro
• Leftovers – throw dinner’s leftovers onto a bed of greens and you instantly have salad for lunch!

Dressing
The basic vinaigrette template is two parts oil to one part acid. Think one cup of olive oil and half a cup of balsamic vinegar plus a little bit of anything else you might want to jazz up your dressing. The combinations are endless!

• Lemon, lime or orange juice
• Oils – olive, flax or grape seed
• Vinegars – balsamic, white wine, red wine, sherry, apple cider, Champagne
• Mustard
• Cheese – parmesan, goat cheese or feta
• Nuts
• Maple syrup or honey
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Fresh herbs – oregano, basil, mint, rosemary, cilantro