Recipe

How to Upgrade Your Boring Dining Hall Salad

By oliviaheise at Drake University

We’ve all been there… we’re tired of the repetitive, overly salty, unhealthy dining hall foods. Feeling obligated, we reach for the greens to change things up, but come on, how many times can you eat the same salad over and over again?

Have no fear. Your world will soon become much fresher.

Spinach and Arugula

This light salad is packed with nutrients and flavor. Because the greens are so bitter, we like to add a little sweetness to this salad. Here’s a list of ingredients to make this salad feel like summer:

• Spinach
• Arugula
• Peanuts
• Orange slices
• Strawberries
• Balsamic drizzle
• Oil drizzle

Grilled Chicken Caesar

Often the main entrée at the dining hall is a chicken breast. Use this to have a more flavorful protein than the usual lettuce and Caesar dressing combo.

• Iceberg lettuce
• Parmesan cheese
• Chicken breast, shredded
• Caesar dressing
• Croutons

Greek

You may not think of a Greek salad as a staple in your dining hall, but the options are all there. Here are some ingredients to make your daily salad a little more European:

• Red peppers
• Green peppers
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Black olives
• Red onion
• Feta cheese
• Red wine vinegar
• Oil drizzle

Lemon and Walnut

Try to avoid the very rich and creamy dressings. These are typically loaded with unnecessary ingredients, plus it will take away from the fresh flavors that were just created. Recently I have been a sucker for a zesty lemon vinaigrette.

• Mixed greens
• Broccoli
• Walnuts
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Black pepper

Get creative and keep it fresh. Bon Appétit.

For other salad tricks, look at these links:

• How to Make a Salad You’ll Actually Enjoy
• What Your Salad Says About You
• Best Dining Halls for a Healthy Salad
• Caprese-Inspired Salad