the wonders of Super Salad

so I did some thinking over the holidays about this blog.
about what I was doing (or not doing with it) and what I really wanted to say.
I type a lot of froo froo junk.
reading back over some posts it's like I was actively avoiding what I really wanted to say.
not always, mind you.
but a lot of the time.
as with real life, I find it hard to really say what I think/believe for fear of offending or upsetting others.
but really, what is the point in a blog if you can't say what you want. isn't that the whole point?
so, I move forward.
I want to share.
what I think
if you don't like it
hmmmmm....
don't read it.

Now, I bet you are expecting me to rant about something really significant today. seeing as I am all fired up and ready to share.
funny thing is, today I want to talk about food.

yummm
yes, food.

it has been on my mind a great deal (usually is, in fact, several times a day!)

real food.
eating good food.
and seeing to it that my children eat good food.

one of our favorite meals is a little something we like to call SUPER SALAD! (not to be confused with soup OR salad.)
the thing that is so appealing about this meal - and let me tell you, everyone in my family gets excited when they hear that it is Super Salad night - is that it is a make your own concoction sort of thing. I have found over the years that the more input that the kids have into what is on their plate, the easier it disappears off the plate.
Here is how it works; all the fixings for salad, and then some, are put out on the table and everyone customizes tier meal. so easy right?!
there are a few "rules" to make sure they understand that an entire bowl of raisins and nothing else does not their dinner make.
so, they must have a variety - this isn't usually too difficult, as they are given so much to choose from - and they need to have some good protein in there.
here is a list of things we usually have out
a variety of lettuce - leaf, romain, ice burg etc.
baby spinach
tomatoes
cucumber
celery
broccoli
green onion
carrots
snow peas
peppers of different colours
zucchini
apples
clementines
strawberries
pineapple
hard boiled eggs
chicken
bacon
homemade croutons
different nuts , walnuts, almonds, pecans
flax seeds and others
rice or couscous
raisins and cranberries

not that we have ALL those things each time we have super salad, but usually most. it is a great meal for using up left overs!

as far as salad dressings, I make a couple of my own and put out what ever is in the fridge, but in fact, most of my kids prefer their salad with no dressing - doesn't really need it when you combined so many wonderful foods!
so there is it.
a salad that I don't have to focus what parts of it my family doesn't eat. a lot of the time when a salad is made and just put in front of them I have to pick out the tomatoes for her or the mushrooms for him or he won't eat it if dressing has been added. Super salad night is always fun. lots of chopping and dishes, but we enjoy trying new combinations and chatting away while we make our bowls. Then all is nice and quiet while we enjoy our salad art.
oh yes. and the name. in a family of super hero obsessed members it helps to have a fun name, we all get healthier and stronger as we eat. ready to save the world!