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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you want to fix a salad? You’re probably thinking lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese and dressing right? Boring! Salads don’t have to be boring. Liven up your salad by adding all different kinds of scrumptious fixings. Wondering what those fixings might be? Let’s explore and get creative to find your favorites.

Close your eyes and picture your favorite salad bar. What do you see? Chances are the first thing is lettuce. Many salad bars have more than one type of lettuce. Is there one you really like? Mix up your lettuce or stick with your favorite. The choice is all up to you.

Now what’s next? All those bright colorful vegetables are probably making their presence in your mind by now? Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peppers and mushrooms are all great additions to any salad.

Zucchini, squash, radishes and even those baby ears of corn can be added to a salad. Many people don’t think about the corn, because they are used to seeing them in stir fry meals only, yet they make the perfect addition to a salad.

Just about any vegetable will work on a salad. You can get more vegetables into your daily diet with a salad than most people could ever imagine. Think of the nutritional value your salad will have with these vegetables included.

How about some fruit? Most salad bars contain fruits like strawberries, pineapple, bananas and other types of berries. Raisins and dried fruits are also a great addition to your salad. Fruits give your salad a sweet taste and they mix well with many vegetables. Fruits add more vitamins and minerals to your salad and up the nutritional value just like vegetables.

Ok what about all those toppers you see at the end of the salad bar? There are bacon bits, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and various kinds of nuts. All these toppings sound pretty good don’t they? You can also add bean sprouts, water chestnuts or red pepper flakes to enhance the flavor.

When it comes to the fixings you place on your salad the sky is the limit. Try new things that you might have never imagined eating on a salad. Add different fruits or vegetables with each salad. Give all those fixings a chance.

Still picturing that salad bar? Open those eyes and get in the kitchen. Create your own salad and make those fixings count.