For the longest time I have been wanting to make a salad bar at home but just never got around to it. Too many excuses. I thought it would be time consuming and that I just didn’t have the space for it. I was definitely wrong! Here is how to make a salad bar at home!

What You Need:

To make a salad bar at home, all you need are your favorite vegetables and toppings! I love making at least 2-3 different vegetables to add but I would prefer more vegetables! Which is why I came up with a salad bar at home. Always have some greens for your base.

Ideas for your salad:

• corn salad
• corn and black bean salad
• artichokes
• roasted chickpeas
• beets or beet salad
• roasted or sauteed brussel sprouts
• red onions, chopped
• roasted sweet potatoes
• shredded cheese
• mozzarella, feta and tomato salad
• pasta salad, I use a lentil pasta for a healthy version
• cabbage, thinly shredded
• boiled eggs
• roasted carrots
• broccoli
• sliced peppers
• roasted eggplant
• zuchinni
• cucumbers
• bacon
• nuts
• olives
• wild rice
• cauliflower
• potato salad

Serve with:

What’s great about having a salad bar, is having so many choices! Have a little bit of everything or select just a few vegetables. Have greens as your base, top off with vegetables and serve as is or add fish, chicken or beef.

Seasonings to try on your veggies:

• lemon pepper
• Italian
• Chipotle Garlic
• Salt and Pepper
• Balsamic or Soy

How to Store:

If you eat as much vegetables as my family and I do, then nothing will go to waste. At first I thought I would be prepping once a week but eating salads for lunch and dinner, it only lasts 2-3 days. What I have been doing is making extra vegetables as I get low.

Containers

One of the reasons it took so long for me to make a salad bar at home was storage. I learned to simplify things by using what I have. Bento containers are great for smaller items, such as olives, nuts, croutons and cheese or dried fruit and nuts. I also used glass containers for the rest of the vegetables. Splitting 2 vegetables in one dish.

Seasonal

Another fun idea, to spruce up the bar is by adding seasoning toppings, such as sliced apples and walnuts for the fall or pomegranate fruit and mango as a winter topping. It will also be more cost effective by shopping for fruits and vegetables in season.

What are some ways you save time in the kitchen?