Sneak Preview: Wondering what to add to a salad to make it less boring? These ideas are especially for taking salad to the office or on the road.
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Are you wondering what to put on a salad you’re packing for work or travel? Because I take a salad-in-a-jar to work with me every day, I have some ideas.
I like variety, but convenience, calories, and healthiness are more significant concerns. Add in the fact that we only have a dorm-size personal refrigerator at my work for about 8-10 employees. So, non-perishable and easy-to-carry salad toppings are vital.
If you take a plain lettuce salad to work, here is a collection of ideas for ingredients you can carry in your lunch bag. Non-perishable foods are included if you don’t have access to refrigeration.
Let’s Look at the Dressing Issue First
I can’t store a lot of bottles of salad dressing in our small work refrigerator, so I have devised an alternative system. In the past, I used small (2-3 oz) hard plastic containers to make individual servings. But they were hard to keep up with inside the dishwasher and my “plastics” drawer.
Does anyone else have problems with missing lids or unmatched sets?
I found the solution at the restaurant supply store–small, inexpensive individual plastic cups with lids like restaurants use. Can’t beat them for convenience. Toss when done.
I like the small size for two reasons: portion control and easy-to-carry in my lunch bag. Prepare plenty and store in the butter compartment of the refrigerator. It’s not a satisfactory place to store butter because butter needs the coldest spot in the fridge.
How Do You Carry the Dressing?
Regarding the dressing itself, I prefer homemade, like this Low-Calorie Balsalmic-Yogurt Dressing or this Creamy Strawberry Yogurt dressing.
But time constraints and laziness more often prevail. I look for something at or below 80 calories per serving.
For a quart jar of lettuce, I need about 2-3 oz. The amount varies according to the viscosity of the dressing.
My favorite is the Honey Mustard Great Seasons Brand from Walmart. I have tried many brands of diet Honey Mustard Dressing, and I declare this one the winner.
I also like Ken’s Raspberry Pecan and most of the diet balsamic vinaigrette dressings. Beware of the extremely low-calorie dressings. I think they taste like flavored water but suit yourself. I’m not willing to eat crummy food in the name of saving calories.
Addendum 7/13/23: Now that I’m retired, I still eat a salad-in-a-jar every day for lunch. The only dressing I use is a good quality balsamic vinegar and the best olive oil I can afford.
Keep add-ons simple. If you eat lunch at home with a large refrigerator at hand, you can be much more creative.
For now, I like to mix toasted almonds (see note at the end) with smoked sundried tomatoes (found at Krogers and much tastier than plain sundried tomatoes) or dried cranberries, blueberries, or other dried fruit. Bags of these combinations will keep for weeks in your desk drawer.
How To Add Fiber to Your Salad
Sprinkle ¼ to 1/3 cup of Fiber One in place of croutons. It may seem weird at first, but it really is good and adds lots of crunch and fiber. It’s also good in place of tortilla strips or fried wonton strips.
Eating salad at home is much more interesting. I may add marinated mushrooms or artichoke hearts, sliced pickled beets, hardboiled eggs, tomatoes, etc. You probably have your own favorites.
Addendum: I no longer eat Fiber One. Not sure why. Probably for the same reason I just up and quit eating Frosted Flakes every morning years ago. Now, I add one tablespoon each of chia seeds and flax seeds.
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How I Pack My Salad Every Morning
- Grab a jar of lettuce from the fridge.
- Choose a salad dressing (already packaged in an individual container).
- Keep Fiber One (or substitute) and bags of almonds/dried fruit/vegetables at your work or in the pantry ready to go.
Now, you can have a healthy salad with no preparation in the morning if you have done your homework (less than 30 minutes with practice) beforehand.
Did You Know You Can Toast Nuts in the Microwave?
Did you know you can toast almonds (or pecans or any other nuts) in the microwave? Place about ¾ c. on a paper plate. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave for an additional minute and let sit on the counter till cool. DO NOT try to cook for 2 minutes without stirring. They will burn. (Times may vary with different microwaves.)
Now it’s your turn. When you carry a salad to work or on a picnic, what ingredients do you pack besides lettuce? Leave a comment below or send me a quick email. I love to hear from my readers. (paula at saladinajar.com)
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