Dressed-up Leafy Greens in a Bowl

The focus of this post is different salad options. There are many different variations out there—some are healthy, some are unhealthy. We all have different tastes and opinions when it comes to salads, so let’s discuss our leafy friends in a bowl.

Salads are usually served before a meal, especially in nicer restaurants where the salad is included in the price of the meal. Many restaurants offer options for these salads, such as a Caesar. We can also enjoy a salad as a main course, thanks to restaurants that offer salad bars as the main attraction, among other things; restaurants have come to offer many more salad options, whether big or small. Salads can be healthy for us, but it’s the little toppings and dressings that we douse them with that makes them unhealthy for us. When we use dressings like ranch, the caloric content increases thus making that healthy option unhealthy. Some of the healthier options are to use oil and vinegar, or just not use any dressing at all. That last option may seem boring, but that is how I eat many of my salads and the taste is much better, in my opinion.

Let’s look at toppings now. Croutons are a staple of many salads, along with bacon bits and chow-mein noodles. Many of these toppings are loaded with butter and/or fried, which makes them unhealthy for us in larger quantities; however, real bacon bits used in moderation can be a healthier option for a salad topping. If you really want to find a good crunch for salads, add some sunflower kernels in. What toppings do you like on your salads?

Try eating a salad without dressing and see how you like it. In addition, take a look at some of your salad dressings in the refrigerator. What are the nutrition facts for those dressings? If they are high in calories and fat, maybe think twice about using it and opting for the no-dressing option instead. Give it a shot!