OK any normal person would agree that a big hunk of bread, slathered in butter, is way more appealing than a salad. However, I have a list of a few ingredients that will make your salad the best thing you eat all day.

1.Cilantro

This stuff is so good. It’s light and tangy and gives your salad a taste of all things Southwest without having to load it with carbs like tortilla chips or corn.

2. Sliced Almonds

Sliced Almonds are the best way to give your salad a little bit of a crunch while avoiding those evil little cubes of bread commonly known as croutons.

3. Use Less Lettuce

Lettuce is so boring. It’s flavorless and uninspiring. Also, let’s face it, the more lettuce you use, the more dressing you’ll be tempted to use. Instead of those bland greens, stock your meal up with vegetables and toppings.

4. Use The Right Ingredients

Food should be treated as an art. You wouldn’t use oil paints on a water color, would you? So don’t use white onions when you should use red onions!

5. Keep It Cheesy

Just saying, a little bit of mozzarella goes a long way.

6. Mix Those Greens Up

Add some arugula to that romaine… and let’s forget the iceberg…

7. Meat It Where It’s At

Add some protein to those veggies! Steak strips, slices of pepperoni, bacon bits, you name it, make it tasty, make it fun, make it great.

8. Dress It Up

I love dressing. However, we all know it isn’t that good for you. So vinaigrettes are better for your heart, skin, and pallet. Skip the Ranch, it’s loaded in MSG anyway, also don’t ever for the light dressing, that stuff is nasty.

9. Chop It Up

Salad already has the potential to be messy, so make it easier on yourself. After you put all the ingredients in a bowl, flip that bowl over on a cutting board and chop it all up, make it easy.

10. Freshen Up

Fresh is always better. Cut any refrigerator damage off your ingredients. Don’t even think about putting that green goop on a plate.

11. Chill Out

This probably goes with out saying, but the temperature of all the ingredients really matters. Putting hot steak strips on cold lettuce is going to leave you with wilted, unappetizing mess. Colder is always better.

Happy Salading!