Salads are more than rabbit food

I think we all know salads are good for you. They have fiber and significant vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately they can be pretty boring if you stick with a lettuce, tomato and cucumber tri-fecta at every dinner. To mix it up a little, try using different types of greens. You can use Bibb, arugula or romaine or spinach for example. You can add fruit like pears and apples or add chopped dates or dried cranberries. Glazed walnuts are a big hit at my house as is a handful of trail mix. The ideas are endless and they really pay off. Many times my family has said "great salad Mom". The one thing that you must do, in my opinion, is make your own salad dressing. It is not hard and it eliminates so many chemicals, preservatives, fat and calories. One basic thing you have to do is decide on the ratio of oil to vinegar. Many cooks prefer the one to one ratio. This cuts down on calories but is too tart for my taste. I prefer the 4 to one ratio of oil to vinegar. After that, you can experiment with additions like mustard, garlic, thyme oregano or whatever herbs and spices you prefer.