Check out my progress on Salad Bar Savvy
Check out this video I found about “Surviving the Salad Bar” from the Today Show.
Yikes! A 1300 kcalorie salad?! Some of those salad bar components are quite the kcalorie bombs! Still, I don’t think the RD gave sufficient emphasis to the fact that even though some items may be kcaloric, they provide nutritional benefits. There is no need to shy away from items like avocado, olives, or sunflower seeds–they provide healthy fats, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. Now, the croutons and ranch dressing…those are OK to skip!
I have much experience in salad bar cuisine; I think I had some sort of salad bar creation for almost every day of high school. My favorite salad ingredients change about as often as the day of the week, but my current obsessions include roasted red peppers, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms…although blackberries and almonds make excellent toppers as well. What are some of your favorite salad bar creations?
Man, now I am majorly jonesing for a big honkin’ salad. Anyway, here’s the grub:
Sunday
This flavor of Spirutein was all I hoped it would be…and more. Just like a chocolate-covered cherry, in a deliciously slurpable form. Oh, and how perfect is my Choco Cherry Treat granola as a topper for this shake?! Two thumbs up for this concoction.
Black Cherry Chocolate Shake: black cherry chocolate Spirutein, soymilk, cherries, strawberries, & Choco Cherry Treat granola
Monday
I got up at 7 this morning to squeeze in a run before class, but I was still pressed for time…hence the PB & banana sammie. This kept me full for a good 5 hours!
PB-Banana Sandwich; cottage cheese & wheat germ
a few leftover naner slices joined the party
A little digging in the freezer revealed a bag of pine nuts and a box of chopped basil, so lunch was bound to include some sort of pesto-ish flavor. I also included some lemon juice, tahini, S + P…and chickpeas, of course.I’ll update my hummus recipe page with the recipe.
Pesto Hummus; squash slices; cukes; red bell pepper; whole wheat pitettes; apple
baby hummus "taco"
I am on a coconut milk kick (in case you can’t tell), so I made another curry dish tonight for diner. This one was inspired by a recipe from 101 Cookbooks. I didn’t really follow the method; I just used the ingredients list as a flavor guide (as I do with most recipes). The Quorn ended up being an excellent addition! DELISH. Cashews and coconut milk make for a fabulous combination.
Cashew Quorn Curry; whole wheat couscous; salad; strawberries
onions, mushrooms, cauliflower, green beans, Quorn cutlet, coconut milk, curry powder, ginger, LOTS of fresh basil, salt
Alright, I must get settled for tonight’s episode of Jon & Kate. Ciao, lovelies!
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
I saw that clip about the salad bars on the Today show this morning, and I too thought the R.D. was very inadequate in explaining the real “goods” and “bads” behind the salads. That 1,300 kcal salad was nuts – although think how crazy it would be if it was like some of those restaurant salads with fried chicken, fried wonton strips, full fat cheeses and more on them! Crazy!
the Black Cherry Chocolate Shake looks delicious – what a fun combo!! i also love your pita/hummus tacos – so cute
my sister used to watch j&k+8 religiously and i always mocked her but now i am a fan of the show…drama getsme hooked eek. i agree with you on salad bar options – i try to pick 2 of the cal-dense items if i really crave them and only occasionally try marinated veggies which often have way too much oil. ok now i want a whole foods salad bar even though im going to bed lol
cashew quorn curry? I’m not so into veggie products, but gosh, that looks and sounds soooo superb!
my fav salad topping: dried figs, candied nuts, goat/blue/gorgonzola cheese, bacon! yeah…def one of those 1300 kcal salads! lol!
I love love love fruity and seafood salads!! There’s nothing better than a fruity salad with salmon
I hate when people load up on the croutons, cheese, and creamy dressings and think they’re being healthy! Haha it cracks me up though. Have a great night!
Those little hummus tacos are so cute!
My favorite salad toppings are apples, feta, walnuts, and apple cider vinegar but if there’s no apples available, any fruit will do!
I only recently started putting fruit on salads but I love it! Particularly blueberries and grapes.
-A
You know I will put anything and everything in my salad, but my favorite (duh) is hummus and bbq sauce.
Great video- def lots of bad stuff can be put on salads! Craziness. All of your eats look good- especially the PB and nanas! Such a match made in heaven. Have a good Tuesday
I love combining fruit and protein into my salad. The last one I ate was awesome and had mango, strawberries and prok tenderloin as the stars!
I love seeing how other people use quorn- I am obsessed with it. Such good stuff!
I love fruit on my salads- pineapple and grapes are great, but also love dried fruit… There is very little that I *won’t* put in a salad- anything from leftover lasagne to blobs of ratatouille!
What is in the cashew curry thang?! I need the recipe! My two favorite things PLUS a b!tchload of basil = success!!
I love love love cooked broccoli, carrots, garbanzo beans on my salad! AND hummus!
That breakfast looks MIGHTY tasty and you know I’m all over that tasting plate for lunch!!
My favorite salads include roasted veggies, meatless meatballs, fruit, salsa, or just spices (cumin, chili pepper, etc.). The possibilities are endless
I was just checking to see if you saw my comment on your last post. I completely and 100% understand and respect your privacy if you did see it and just didn’t want to answer but I just thought I’d check in case you didn’t see it.
ruby tuesdays rocks my socks off haha aka love the salad bar!
I sent you an email–check you inbox!
haha love the hummus taco. so petite and deliciously cute. i love anything with basil, i bet that curry is amazing!
oh my goodness oh my goodness! that hummus recipe looks insanely creative and fabulous! I LOVE the mini hummus taco- how cute!
you reminded me I need to pick up wheat germ! I have been missing the vitamin E!
oh and I am newly hooked on jon and kate. I hate to say it but my mom first told me about the show and how “great” it was several months ago- but I never seemed to pay attention- now I can’t help but pay attention!
I like different textures in my salad: crunchy veggies and nuts, chewy dried fruit, maybe some smushy avocado or hummus.
Love the little hummus tacos! I love tasting-plate type meals
i am updating my blog roll and your new address will be on it momentarily!
those fluffy “pitettes” look so yummy! if a salad bar has chickpeas, its a-ok in my book! i agree about your assessment of the RDs discussion…avo should always get the thumbs up. ranch and any other cream based dressing is definitely the part to skip.
I think the whole salad bar video is a bit misleading. You can definitely have any of those toppings if you really want them, but you need to choose them in moderation, and maybe not all at once. I add cheese to salads all the time, because I like the way it tastes, but I don’t add a ton. One hard boiled egg? Not going to kill you. Same with the avocado, nuts, croutons, etc. I appreciate that it opens people’s eyes up to the calroie contents of various items they could add, but there is no reason to make everything forbidden.