A perfect salad mix?

What is it with me and salads? I've posted quite a few lettuce related articles over the past years and sometimes wonder what the attraction is? The thing is, I feel that a good salad mix with an oil and vinegar dressing is good for the cellular engine that we call us! Of all the grocery items I purchase during an average week, produce veggies stand with a unique crowd! Raw meats, fish and produce are non processed foods, and as such have a low cellular carcinogenic impact over time. And, foods like this make them cells very happy!

A morning salad!

Over the years, my taste for salads has evolved quite a bit. I used to eat nothing but boring iceberg lettuce for a base, along with a smattering of vegetables and that like eating nothing nutritionally.

Now a days, I like to mix Romaine, spinach and Bib lettuce together sprinkled with some bell pepper, shredded cheese and sliced celery. On some days, (like this one), I'll splurge and add a small amount of sliced turkey. My dressing is an interesting mix of virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard! This is a low calorie, low salt and very low cholesterol way to start any day!

Eating healthy in America today!

It's really no secret that Americans currently lead the world in terms of being overweight (a whopping 74%). And it's no wonder. Even as children starting out in grade school, practically zero classes are directed at proper nutrition, exercise and weight management. And yes grade school is not too soon to start beginning to educate kids. Proper maintenance of your health is a life long pursuit!

Did you know that the percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period. I find those figures troubling and they are getting worse (not better) every year! Even Michelle Obama's well intentioned school lunch program has faltered in many schools across America. The National School Boards Association reported in late 2014 that 83.7 % of school districts around the country have seen an increase in wasted school lunch food since a 2010 law was passed mandating new nutrition rules. So, something needs to be changed and changed soon. After all, today's pudgy will soon turn into tomorrow's cardiac arrests and burdens on the healthcare system!

increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly

Dressing was a mix of olive oil and vinegar!

One thing that moms and dads can do early on is to teach their children about the wonderful world of salads! There are virtuously endless ways of making highly nutritious and filling salad creations that not only will kids like, bet even learn to crave. And, while I'm no model of physical health, I have enjoyed a lifetime of salads. As a matter of fact, I enjoy a custom creation just about every day! Oftentimes, my choice of ingredients are limited by what I have on hand. Yet, even a very basic romaine salad with a few veggies tossed in can do wonders over time. The basic 170 gram lunch salad pictured here contained romaine lettuce, onion, bell pepper, shredded cheese, celery and croûtons made out of toast!

Fresh salads make my day!

Of all the foods I enjoy eating, nothing compares to a good old fashioned salad that I’ve thrown together myself. Other than the possible exception of my homemade ‘ranch style’ dressing, there are absolutely no health warnings out about salads. (I know because I’ve check all the media outlets. There’s nothing – zip! Trust me)!!

Now while I often have agonized over getting Mad Cow disease after eating beef or a case of dreaded trichinosis from pork or even Type I diabetes from too much pasta, I feel I’m pretty much in the clear when it comes to chopping down on a plate of lettuce sativa, onions and celery! (Something that makes watching mainstream TV ads, as I eat, a little more doable).

“Are you feeling a little run down lately? Doctors have now shown that three out of ten may be suffering from Early Brain Tumor Onset or EBTO! Now, while absolutely nothing can be done about curing EBTO, you can slow it down and live a relatively ‘normal’ lifestyle. Ask your doctor if Tumorset® might be right for you!” Yeah, right? No, wrong actually! (God, please save me from these sorts of visual downers that are designed to scare us to death)!

The other thing about a good old fashioned salad is the endless combinations that are out there! Every sort of vegetable or fruit is fair game and if you find yourself wandering too far afield (Sausage? Cheese? Oh My!), you can always quiet any nasty thoughts by using this great power word – preponderance. As in, ‘the vast preponderance of my salad was composed of some really healthy shit!’ Just be careful here that the ‘preponderance part’ of the ingredients doesn’t slip over to the dark side. After all, someone remarking, ‘My Gawd, girl! Is that a slab of ribs in your salad there?’ - will not go over very well when you get to thinking about it later on!