There’s a Whole Foods right around the corner from our office. It’s disturbing how tempting it is. I seriously tell myself every morning that I’m not going to go to Whole Foods. Yet, without fail… I find myself wandering around the crowded market every afternoon.
Typically, I get something from the salad bar. Okay, I get the same thing every time: spinach noodles and a hard boiled egg. It’s easy and everything else tends to overwhelm me. Too many options and there’s always a risk that I won’t like whatever I end up getting. Veering from my routine is hardly an option.
All of the girls in the office though have been getting the chopped salads. The long line has always intimidated me and I really get nervous when I have to choose my own toppings. If I ever go to a salad type restaurant, I like to get the pre-determined salads. So this chopped salad thing was just like not my idea of a relaxing lunch. Too stressful.
For some reason, I was recently inspired to get in line and test it out. I’m trying to eat healthier (ugh) and the salad was a good start. I went by myself and picked up my lunch early so Fresh Market was practically empty. I was so happy with how the salad turned out. As weird as it is, I’m sharing the salad because I thought it was that amazing.
Feta Cheese | I try to avoid cheese because I love it a little bit too much. Once I start eating it, I tend to crave it forever. The feta is a great tiny taste of cheese and satisfies that craving without falling down the rabbit hole. #yum
Cherry Tomatoes | Let’s be real, I originally chose the tomatoes just to add some color to the salad. Cherry tomatoes are so hit or miss. These were a hit.
Beets | I feel like enjoying beets are a sign that you’re a grownup. They are the best. Truthfully every single salad really does need beets. (Side note, beets + oranges are essentially my favorite combination.)
Avocado | Enough said.
Add romaine lettuce, drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette, and enjoy.
I’m not really sure if I want to veer away from this just yet, but I’m so curious to know what your favorite salad combination is. Yay for being healthy!
xoxo
I think Whole Foods must have some sort of signal drawing people inside. Every time I worked in Foggy Bottom I would be drawn into WF. FOR NO REASON! Spooky…
I always like to add strawberries, blue berries, almonds, or salmon to my salads. I usually use spinach too.
I just had to comment on this one. I've always had salads for lunch (more of a health choice than preference) but was never that into them.
The Morales Roast Beets Salad at Deno's Bistro in Winterpark, CO changed my life:
mixed greens, hazelnuts, goat cheese, shallot vinaigrette
Amazing.
I seriously could eat avocados all day every day. They are one of my favorite foods! As far as salads go, I only like romaine and spinach…arugula is the wooorst. Other than that, I like my salads pretty simple. Adding nuts like walnuts or sliced almonds are a good way to mix it up.
Shelby | The Southernista
Whole Foods has some of the best produce! I love cheese, cherry tomatoes, avocados, a little bit of red onion and cucumbers on mine! Sometimes, I'll add pine nuts or croutons for a little crunch!
AKB
asouthernbrunette.blogspot.com
If I worked near Whole Foods, I most certainly would be going there for lunch every day. Their salad bars are too much fun (but there really are a few too unhealthy pitfalls). This salad looks quite yum, I love the combination of avocado and feta. My favorite salad is probably a massaged kale salad with a bit of parmesan (or similar shaved salty cheese), raisins, toasted nuts and some other kind of produce (perhaps onions or a shaved carrot). So good!
I have a great salad bar at school and as an athlete, I always have to add a bit of protein to my salads so I try to test out salads with different marinated chicken. I have discovered the best salad I have ever had is romaine lettuce, red and yellow peppers, carrots, teriyaki chicken, crunchy noodles and ORANGES! THere are a lot of colors going on there and a good amount of flavor! It's got protein, carbs and fats- I use honey mustard dressing- and is a well rounded, super healthy and colorful salad!
Sara
imjustaginger.blogspot.com
I'm currently loving a big-as-your-head Apple Cheddar Grape salad for lunch at least three times per week!
You can find the recipe at http://www.hungrygatorgal.com/2013/03/almost-grownup-lunchbox-apple-cheddar.html
Enjoy 🙂
I absolutely love salad so much! I eat it every single day for lunch. Normally I stick to the same stuff, but I hate to change it up because its so yummy and I get so excited to eat it during my lunch break. I always add spinach, sprouts, cucumber, avocado(the best part), goat cheese, beans for extra fiber, walnuts, sliced almonds, cherry tomatoes and then sometimes I'll add craisins or feta to change it up a bit.
I like spinach with apples, walnuts and feta. Oh, and balsamic as my dressing!
Definitely trying this when I'm home from college
I really like salads in general, but some of my favorites are the Turkey Fujji Apple salad from Panera Bread, I think it's one of their specials during summer but it is heavenly!! When I make them myself I like to throw in spinach, goat cheese, blueberries, strawberries and sometimes apple.. cannot wait for summer to get around so I can eat them again!!
I hated kale until I had the kale salad at a darling Southern-style restaurant in Miami. It has green apples, cranberries, a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, and honey-mustard dressing. It's divine! I posted about it here: http://canadianprep.blogspot.ca/2013/01/kale-green-apple-salad.html
I make it often for friends as well, and it's always a hit!
sounds delish! I love the whole foods salad bar but all my friends in NYC get chopped salads constantly!
My go to salads are:
Spring Mix with pears, walnuts, feta and raspberry vinaigrette.
Romaine with red onion, feta, sliced peperoncini, and greek dressing. (if you like olives, they go great with this…I'm just not a fan)
Spinach with sunflower seeds, sliced strawberries and raspberry vinaigrette.
sounds like a great salad, if not a little concerning that the salad bar choices stress you out. Deep breath, it's going to be okay, and if you don't like the combo, just try another one or heck, grab a cupcake for lunch instead!
My salad of the moment is:
Spinach and arugula
Raspberries
Blackberries
Mandarin orange
Craisins
Raspberry Merlot Vinaigrette
Feta
So good!!
Beets + Oranges + Goat Cheese + Arugula = BEST. SALAD. EVER.
Oh my goodness your salad sounds amazing! My favorite salad is…. spinach, goat or blue cheese, red onion, candied pecans, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, freshly ground black pepper, and poppyseed dressing!
oh and maybe a little dried cranberry 😉
Spring mix, chicken, toasted pecans, grape tomatoes, red onion, Craisins, crumbled bleu cheese and Newman's Own Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing Cuisinarted (new word) with more bleu cheese to make it sort of creamy. OK, sorry, that's really specific but this dressing will BLOW YOUR MIND.
Feta is ALWAYS a good decision.