How-To For A Dumb Guy: Salad Bar

[ooglesnboogles]

Hey all!

 

After staring at a salad bar in a buffet restaurant today (longingly, or with vacant confusion, I'm still not certain), I realized that even if I decided today was the day I'd finally try this newfangled 'salad' dish everyone talks about I'd have no idea whatsoever of how to go about getting/preparing one. My previous experience with salad bars has been limited to stealing croutons by the (not always metaphorical) handful. Up until now I've been a very meat-centered eater and I've got very little clue as to what all those bright and colorful things are, hiding out in the salad bar. So I figured I'd be the dumb guy to raise his hand and go "Wha?!"

Since I've got a whole string of dumb questions, I figured I'd post them under the same starter (How-To For A Dumb Guy) so the rest of us in the dunce-cap-wearing community can find them more easily plus, maybe others will start their own Dumb Person threads. Basically, things we should all know, but don't.

 

Back on topic:

What foods are typically found in salad bars? Are there certain items that typically don't play well together?

For those of us who don't eat many vegetables, what do different things taste like? Sure, I've had lettuce and tomatoes on burgers before, and I've had bell peppers with my cheesesteak, and a few other things, but what about spinach? Or dressings? Or those little tiny tomatoes? Again, this all factors into the 'what tastes good with what' question.

 

Away from the bar, what are some salads typically offered at restaurants? I know my mom likes to get the chef salad at certain diners, and occasionally I've seen people trade in their fries for a pile of lettuce and tomatoes. What's the deal here?

 

 

Thanks for the help!

[i'd also like to note I'm exaggerating my ignorance a tad to emphasize the point, but I still need help!]

[Mr Scorpio]

If you have regular access to a good salad bar that is awesome. Now, you'll find that a great way to figure out what things taste like is to shove them into your mouth and let your tongue touch them. No foolin mister!

 

But seriously, just experiment and see what you like. From a health perspective you should include as many colors as you can (red from tomato and pepper, orange from carrot, etc. More importantly, always go spinach over lettuce (especially if its crappy iceberg lettuce that pale) and take it easy on the dressing.

 

I've seen a lot of people think they are eating healthy when infact they had 600 calories and 45 grams of fat on a plate of cheese, dressing, and croutons. One "trick" is to take dressing on the side in a small cup and dip your fork into the cup before each bite of salad.

[EasyHeart]

Mr. Scorpio summed it up nicely.

 

I'll just add: "Salad" is greens and vegetables. Stay away from the potato salads, jello, whipped cream salads, etc. that you find on a lot of salad bars. Those aren't salad. (Bean salad or broccoli salads can be okay, so long as they have just a vinagrette dressing).

 

That's another good point: Try to stay away from thick, creamy dressings. It kind of defeats the purpose of eating a salad to smother it in 500 calories of fat. Vinegrette (oil and vinegar and spices) is your best bet.

 

If you haven't eaten a lot of salads or veggies, it will be a transition for you, so take it in stages. Start with basics like lettuce and tomatoes and whatever dressing you like. Then, start adding more veggies and using less and less dressing. Your goal is to have a big pile of greens and veggies with a little bit of dressing.

 

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got about healthy eating is: "Learn to like what's good for you." If you're like me and grew up in a family where we ate like crap, you have a lot of unlearning and retraining of your taste buds ahead of you, but it's worth it in the long run.

[ooglesnboogles]

Thanks so much for the tips!

 

I don't currently have access to a salad bar, but possibly over the summer and definitely in the fall I will, as I'm changing schools and the dining hall has a big one (checked it out yesterday, it's what prompted the thread!). The school is kind of a nature place so they have tons of health-conscious people and I'm assuming that the organic salad bar, which was crowded with people, is much better than the pizza bar, which was pretty empty and kinda burnt

 

The main reason I asked, as opposed to going and trying, is that I always hate wasting food, so I try to grab what I know and/or like. Sure, they've got a compost bin to chuck food scraps in, but I even feel bad doing that.

 

I like that tip about the dressing in a cup. I'm not much for dressings/sauces anyway, so a little will probably be enough. And that way I can also try a bunch of them without wasting much. As for the croutons, the silver lining to my recent dental work is that crunchy foods aren't very fun for me. Sucks, since I love crunchy tacos, but good for my health.

 

 

I'm definitely forcing myself to like healthier foods. I've found a whole grain pasta that I like. Though it's still not the best thing for me, it's better than what I was eating before. This whole "eating healthy" thing is hard work for a McDonald's glutton like me

 

 

Any other ideas? Keep em comin'!

[todreaminblue]

My previous experience with salad bars has been limited to stealing croutons by the (not always metaphorical) handful.

 

 

this gave me a grin oogles......zoomin past the salad bar stealin croutons....lol.......

 

 

i adore salad bars i like creating this mountainous island in the middle of the plate surrounded by something blue...so its an island salad....i am still searching for the elusive blue salad thing i can use as the ocean......so far i have found red peppers and pretend its volcanic water......btw ...its in my head.....no one knows....well now the cat is out of the salad on here...ok shutting up and keeping my secrets to myself......smilin.....

 

 

as another poster said just try everything and have a napkin handy......for the rejects...what i have found is if you put raw mushies and spinach together in a salad...its meaty...take a forkful of the two....close your eyes.....mushies are meat for veggie eaters.....repeat that as often as needed.....who knows you may just get converted........good luck future salad lover......deb

[Mr Scorpio]

Any other ideas? Keep em comin'!

 

If you can afford it, don't wait until school starts back up to begin eating salad. Buy a bunch (1 unit) of spinach, some carrot (I like to shred mine), some celery, and some roma tomato (small so you won't waste any) and have at it!

 

Also, as easy stated, be aware of the other salads out there. Whereas he (wisely) mentioned the ones to avoid, there are others which are delicious and healthy.

[ooglesnboogles]

this gave me a grin oogles......zoomin past the salad bar stealin croutons....lol.......

 

 

i adore salad bars i like creating this mountainous island in the middle of the plate surrounded by something blue...so its an island salad....i am still searching for the elusive blue salad thing i can use as the ocean......so far i have found red peppers and pretend its volcanic water......btw ...its in my head.....no one knows....well now the cat is out of the salad on here...ok shutting up and keeping my secrets to myself......smilin.....

 

 

as another poster said just try everything and have a napkin handy......for the rejects...what i have found is if you put raw mushies and spinach together in a salad...its meaty...take a forkful of the two....close your eyes.....mushies are meat for veggie eaters.....repeat that as often as needed.....who knows you may just get converted........good luck future salad lover......deb

 

 

Haha yeahhh, when I go to the pizza bar at Round Table I mozy towards the salad bar, wait until the employees go back to grab more pizzas, and pretend to be grabbing a fork/straw/something while piling croutons in between my slices

 

But damn, Deb, now I'm going to need to make a salad Kilauea every time now...

 

What constitutes 'mushies'?

[ooglesnboogles]

If you can afford it, don't wait until school starts back up to begin eating salad. Buy a bunch (1 unit) of spinach, some carrot (I like to shred mine), some celery, and some roma tomato (small so you won't waste any) and have at it!

 

Also, as easy stated, be aware of the other salads out there. Whereas he (wisely) mentioned the ones to avoid, there are others which are delicious and healthy.

 

 

I will give that a try! If it doesn't work out, I know a few neighbors who wouldn't mind some free veggies.

 

I've also tried getting foods with more greens in 'em. Gotta say, I'm digging those McDonald's McWraps with the grilled chicken and bacon. Even without the bacon, they're pretty tasty and relatively good for me (as opposed to McNuggets haha). I think a big part of eating greens is getting used to the new textures. I'm still on the fence about tomato slices, simply cause I don't like the way they feel when I bite into them. But that's how I felt about lettuce in the beginning, too.

[Ripnet]

You can make your own salad dressing. Ask if they have some olive oil. Add some lemon juice if they have some lemons at the salad bar. Add some salt and pepper to taste or bring some herbs with you.

 

You should try eating 90% healthy and then 10% whatever you want (since 10% is low and is in small moderation it should not you do any harm).

 

Maybe you will have your favourite treat once a week. It could be a few slices of pepperoni pizza or even potato salad.

 

You shouldn't try eating most healthy at the start. You start off small like 20 to 25% of your meals is healthy then you gradually increase more healthy foods. This way you are more likely to stick with the diet and it won't be as hard. You maybe you some detox symptoms when eating healthy so it's best to go slow. That doesn't mean it takes you two years to eat 90% healthy but up to 6 months.

[ooglesnboogles]

Thanks for adding in, Ripnet.

 

I have been eating healthier, and going very slowly with it, as that seems to be effective for me. I started out by just toning back the unhealthiness (normal size instead of large, chicken sandwich instead of meatball), then starting mixing in more healthy items while toning back a little more (i.e., no more soda). Lately I've mixed in a lot more grilled chicken (I like chicken a lot), a few greens, and some yogurts and stuff like that. Slow goings. I'm hoping salads are the next step. Unhealthy-food-detox is no fun at all.

 

I need more bananas so maybe I'll grab some salad stuff while I'm out. Keep the tips comin'!