DIY Salad Bar to Save Time & Be Healthier
This was a totally random thought I had this morning as I was sipping on my Matcha & Coconut superfood smoothie, but ever since starting our business, Detox Box Delivered, I have been trying to figure out how to help people by making their lives easier, saving them time, and making them feel good in their own skin.
Our ready-to-blend superfood smoothies are most definitely the easiest way to consume a ton of nutrients that can make:
- Your skin glow
- Your pants feel loose
- Your body do a happy dance.
They also make life so much easier because of the amount of time saved.
But when I’m not drinking our superfood smoothies, I am constantly wondering what to make next and how to make it healthy, but not spend hours doing it.
Am I alone here?!
I’m sure that a lot of you want to eat healthy, which is why you are reading this. Most of us want a simple way to go about it because, then, we are more likely to stick to it.
One of the things that I feel I have finally mastered, at 31 years old, is when I feel overwhelmed with something, I solve the problem by keeping it simple.
Spending about 30-40 minutes using my favorite veggie chopper (here) and throwing some veggies in mason jars to be used throughout the entire week is seriously a life-saver.
DIY Salad Bar for at-home, easy access to eating healthy
The best part about having these jars with chopped veggies and other whole-foods, like nuts, seeds, beans, etc. is that you can switch up the combinations and NEVER GET BORED!
Some days I’m feeling like I need more fruits in my life. Other days, I’m really feeling the veggies. Whatever your preference, you have a ton of options!
What To Put In Your DIY Salad Bar:
It’s totally up to you what you want to chop up and throw into jars, but here are some “go-to” salad bar ingredients that I always enjoy having on-hand:
Veggies/Fruits:
- Grape Tomatoes
- Matchstick Carrots
- Purple Cabbage
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Cucumbers
- Onions
- Corn Kernels
- Sprouts
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Grated Beets
- Avocado (I don’t chop these up until right before eating my salad)
Protein:
Keeping ready-to-eat plant-based protein (or whatever type of protein you want) will help keep you full and energized.
- Chickpeas- roasted or plain (1/2 cup = 7.5 grams)
- Kidney beans (1/2 cup = 7.5 grams)
- Black Beans (1/2 cup = 8 grams)
- Lentils (1/2 cup = 9 grams)
- Black Eyed Peas (1/2 cup = 13.5 grams)
Nuts & Seeds:
You can keep these items in your pantry. I love using Mason Jars because they are glass, not plastic, and they make everything look neat and organized!
- almond slices
- sunflower seeds
- pepitas
- pistachios
- pecans
- walnuts
- sesame seeds
How to Put Your Salad Together:
There’s no set way to do this. Sometimes I leave out the lettuce and make myself a mixture of chopped veggies, beans, and nuts. That’s the beauty of having everything chopped and separated… so many possibilities of combinations!
Here is a quick guide to making a quick and easy salad from your home salad bar:
Step 1: Choose a leafy base
- romaine
- baby spinach
- arugula
- spring mix
- kale
Step 2: Choose 4+ veggie or fruit toppings
- sliced bell peppers
- grated carrots
- corn kernels
- cucumber slices
- red onion slices
- sprouts
- sugar snap peas
- tomato slices or halved grape tomatoes
- mushroom slices
- avocado slices
- grated beets
- apple slices
- pear slices
- strawberry slices
- berries
Step 3: Choose Your Protein
We love to keep our meals plant-based for easy digestion, but you are welcome to add chicken, hard-boiled eggs, or whatever protein works best for you.
- Chickpeas (roasted or plain, but I love roasted with a little olive oil, salt & pepper, paprika, and cumin)
- Kidney beans
- Black Beans
- Lentils
- Black Eyed Peas
Step 4: Choose Some Extras
I love adding a little sweetness or crunch to my salads!
- Craisins (I like these because they do not contain any fake sugar and they are organic)
- Raisins
- Almonds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pepitas
- Pistachios
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Sesame seeds
Step 5: Add Your Dressing
There are so many salad dressings out there, but I usually have a few on-hand or make my own.
- Balsamic (great for salads that are sweeter)
- Ranch
- Italian
And there you have it! A DIY Salad Bar that can be switched up every single day and make healthy eating EASY. I definitely recommend investing in a vegetable chopper– it’s fun and makes the prep time a lot faster!
What I love about this is that my kids get excited to make healthy combinations to add to their meal or make as a healthy snack.
If there’s one thing that I learned from being an elementary school teacher, it’s that kids love to be in control and make their own choices.
If you try this DIY salad bar idea out, let us know what you think! Don’t forget to tag us in your beautiful refrigerator pictures, too @detoxboxdelivered and @thedailydetox
Happy Chopping 🙂
