The Herbivore's Dilemma: Salad Switch-Up | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

The Herbivore's Dilemma: Salad Switch-Up

Think salads are boring? Try out these healthy combinations and enjoy your tasty new masterpiece!

29
The Herbivore's Dilemma: Salad Switch-Up
Pexels

When I was younger, I relished in my grandmother's meatloaf recipe. Lush platefuls of dark red meat, Sundays spent munching on fried chicken, and the taste of a hot dog after a long day spent swimming in the pool: these were my favorite kinds of food.

Fast forward to ninth grade, when I decided to become a vegetarian alongside my best friend, Montana. Though I was officially an herbivore during this period of my life, I detested salad. I claimed to hate the texture of lettuce, the taste of spinach, the bitterness of kale. I was an herbivore who survived on macaroni and cheese and baked potato soup (of which my mother makes the best).

Now, years later, I've made many switches from being an herbivore to an omnivore and back again. Regardless of what I categorize myself as, salads have become one of my absolute favorite meals.

Long gone are the days in which I whined about the taste of lettuce - now, I heap piles and piles of it into my bowl, characterizing my salads with beets, chickpeas, onions, cauliflower, and every kind of addition you can think of.

Salads can be bland and boring - this much is true. If you currently don't fancy a bowl of greens, but want to give salads another chance, try out these salad mixtures, and get excited to eat healthy.

First of all, the greens.

Spinach is my "green" of choice. I typically correlate kale with fruity salads, characterized by dried cranberries and blueberries, slivered almonds and a raspberry vinaigrette. Though that sounds delicious, I prefer savory salads. For a delicious, savory salad, try my favorite combination: roasted butternut squash, chickpeas, and green peas, all atop a humongous bed of lettuce and drizzled with Italian or Green Goddess dressing. This salad will fill you up, and you'll be dreaming about the taste of the butternut squash for days to come.

Second, the additions.

You don't have to like variety to enjoy your salad. You can keep it simple, if you'd like, or you can go a little crazy. Whatever your stomach is begging for, you can add to a salad. When I'm feeling simple, I'll throw some black olives and marinated artichoke hearts onto a bed of spinach or lettuce and munch on the simple, yet delicious, result. If I'm feeling a little more hungry, I love to combine beets, red onions, chickpeas, cauliflower, and broccoli atop my greens. There are endless combinations to feast upon!

Lastly, the dressing.

Now it is time for the pièce de résistance, the icing on the cake - the choice of dressing for your masterpiece. Like I said before, I am not the biggest fan of fruity salads, so I tend to stick to the more savory dressings: think Italian, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Green Goddess, Asian Sesame Ginger. Take a brief account of the additions you made to your salad - what kind of taste do you hope to pull from them? If you've added the artichoke and olives, I suggest going with the Italian; if you've added in tons of veggies, like cauliflower, broccoli, and beets, I would suggest going with a Green Goddess (it's like a more savory, healthier Ranch); and if you have a simple salad like a Caprese, with tomato, basil, and mozzarella cheese atop a bed of spinach, go for the Balsamic Vinaigrette.

In the hopes of encouraging you to try out one of my favorite salad recipes, I worked up quite the appetite. Sneak out to the grocery store today to pick up some delicious additions and dressings for your future masterpieces. Bon appetit!


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

177761
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4811
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450931
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22467
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments