Packing a salad for lunch

[honeymo78]

Now that I'm getting back on the wagon I want to start bringing salad again for lunch. Not only will it help fill me up along with whatever else I'm having but it will also help me eat my vegetables. My only problem is that by the time lunchtime comes around my salad does not look appetizing at all - all wilty and yucky.

For those of you who bring a salad to work what do you do? Keep the lettuce separate from the other stuff (tomato, onion, cucumber, etc)? Dressing in its own container? Any tips, hints, suggestions would be welcome.

 

[Jiminy102]

I take the dressing seperate!!! If I add anything like tomatoes or pickles or something I add it right before I walk out the door!!!!

 

[mishoe01]

Hi Steph!!

I buy the "salad in a bag" and bring the bag and leave it in the fridge at work - I then bring the extras seperately (tomatoes, mushrooms, cheese, anything else) and combine them on a plate at work. I have bottle of dressing in the fridge too.


I then close the bag as well as I can (with the least amount of air as possible) and do the same the next day.

 

[DoeWDW]

I always bring the dressing separate - I keep a bottle in the fridge at work. If you put all the extra stuff in the container first (like cucumbers, tomatoes, etc) and then put your greens on top, your lettuce won't be so wilted. Toss it when you're ready to eat.

 

[ohMom]

but not all the way

I wanted to share with you some different salad versions I have come up with to beat the same-old-salad blues:

turkey pepperoni, black olives or mild pepper rings, low-fat mozz. cheese and italian dressing (i let the dressing sit for a bit first too)

Ken's steakhouse Lite Caesar with Fat Free Pepperidge Farm caesar dressing, canned chicken breast

2 hard boiled egg whites, turkey, and low-fat ranch

low-fat tortilla, turkey lunchmeat, bag-o-salad and touch of ranch dressing for a wrap


I just dress up the bag o'salad as mentioned before. I'm SAHM so I don't have tips directly; but when I pack a salad for DH I just pack the dressing seperate. Be sure to "push" as much air of your salad container during the final sealing.

When I worked I would keep my own bottle of salad dressing at work in that frig.

 

[sharoncity]

I have found tomatoes to be the biggest offenders for "soggy salad". I bring them separately. Like everyone else, I keep a bottle of dressing in the work fridge. I like FF Ranch, then I can use it for carrots or celery dip too.

And take the time to put all sorts of stuff in your salad. Then its more of a treat instead of just "rabbit food". Cheese, mushrooms, olives, celery, cucumber, onion, roated chicken or turkey chunks all help make it more of a meal. Be creative! My MIL likes canteloupe in hers!

 

[honeymo78]

Thanks everyone for all the storage tips and salad variations. I love putting "goodies" in my salad. I went out and bought some salad fixings tonight so I'll try keeping my tomato separate and take my bottle of dressing in for the work fridge.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Don't forget the extra CRUNCH! Bacon bits (for LCers), a sprinkle of nuts/sesame seeds really kicks it up for me.

 

[TiggersPal]

I personally would keep the dressing separate...hope no one said that already, I just realized I didn't read ALL the posts!!! Sorry if I'm repeating anyone! LOL

 

[leahannpen]

Originally posted by Jiminy102
pickles

You put pickles in your salad? Really? At first I thought, "eww gross!" but, now that I think about it, that might not be too bad. What kind/how many do you use? Are you doing W.W.? How many points/calories are they?


I bring the lettuce w/ the fixins in a container and then bring my dressing separate. I usually either use a tupperware midgets container for 3 TBSP of dressing (Wishbone's Just 2 Good is only about a point and a half and it's good!) and I'll dip my fork, or I'll put a little bit of dressing on the salad at a time, then cover and shake it up, to distribute evenly.

I usually put on my salad: cucumbers, tomatoes, red/green bell peppers, feta cheese, ham or turkey-ham chunks and now, maybe pickles!

 

[dishereicome]

You can also try putting the dressing in first at the bottom of your container then add the lettuce and fixings and then toss just before you are ready to eat. Things don't get soggy that way but you'll have one less container to bring. I also find that I can measure out my salad dressing and then I know I won't overdo it

 

[jillwdw]

I put my salad fixins in a ziploc with the lettuce. When I'm ready to eat, I add the dressing and toss. Then drop the salad on a plate or eat it out of the bag. Pickles are fun to add using both sweet and dill.

 

[Otto's Doll]

I like green olives in my salads, and sometimes I add some nuts too. Yum!

 

[Valentine]

I purchased a small insulated bag... and I keep all my salad stuff in seperate tupperware containers.. I use my Foreman grill in the AM.. and toss a Chicken Breast.. or Turkey breast..on the grill.. it takes moments.. while I rinse and "SPIN" my lettuce and stuff it into it's own container.. I toss a tomato into the bag.. and the meat into its own container.. a peice of fruit.. and dressing at work... and I am off... sounds complicated.. but it takes only about 5 min total in the morning.. and it is a very tasty little lunch when I get to work... For breakfast.. I microwave an egg in a small tupperware and put it on 2 slices of 12 grain whole wheat for a great 4 pt breakfast... my salad is usually 4 pts also.. my fruit is usually 2 pts during the day... that leaves me 14 pts for dinner and snacks... and I am never hungry.. except right now.. I have to go have dinner!! LOL!! Good luck!!

Kathy