Do you crave a fresh, cool salad on these hot summer days? What’s not to love about a healthy, hydrating meal that goes beyond the typical bowl of greens? Salad bars are not only a great way to feed your family, but they’re also an excellent party choice because they allow your guests to be a part of the meal creation. Far more creative than taco or sandwich bars, salad bars provide food options that are healthy and delicious. We’ve put together some great, fun salad bar ideas using fresh greenhouse fruits and vegetables where the combination possibilities are endless.

We believe it is important to spend time with your loved ones and we are constantly thinking of new ways to make your life more delicious. Aside from supplying your family with great greenhouse grown fruits and vegetables, we want to make sure you are inspired with unique ways to incorporate them into every eating occasion.  Whether you are looking to create a unique dinner idea for the family or an inventive entertaining spread, an interactive salad bar is fun for everyone!

SIMPLE – IMPRESSIVE – ACCESSIBLE –

Salad bars are ideal for the summer because they are simple, eye-catching, and cater to all tastes and ways of eating.  What’s not to love about creating something that is quick to prep and requires to be added into bowls when you’re ready to serve? You can prepare the night before or the day of the event depending on what time allows. Simple and stress-free! Serve our snacking tomatoes right out of the package or use some fun, summery serving ware at your next outdoor BBQ or pool party. With the ease of preparing a salad bar, you have more time to spend with your guests! Impress everyone with a variety of options and get really creative when setting the table with fresh and vibrantly colored produce. There is a flavor for everyone, so let them build their best salad!

WHAT TO INCLUDE –

After considering the types of events people usually celebrate over the summer, such as bridal or baby showers, birthdays, backyard BBQs, and pool parties, we came up with the two must-have themes for your next salad bars. You can easily do whichever suits your guest list or even do both if it works for your celebration. One thing to keep in mind while setting up a salad bar is that you can get quite creative with how you arrange the great masterpiece. You can have a lot of fun with colorful serving-ware to go along with a theme, or you can go for a more classic look with white pieces. Create different levels of heights with various shapes and sizes of bowls and platters to create a unique look. It’s also a lot of fun to make different charcuterie-style boards! Pour dressings into small bowls and serve with spoons, or use a gravy boat or creamer pitcher to easily pour. Consider how you would like to layer the salad when organizing the order of your salad bar. Placing base items at the beginning of the table, desired toppings next, and finally cutlery and napkins at the end once they are ready to indulge in their very own personalized salad. Last but not least, once all of the good and delicious items have been placed, gather some fun decorations from around the house to fill in the gaps or place some fresh cut flowers from your local shop or garden.

A SALAD BAR TO WOW GUESTS –

When you create a salad bar with greenhouse grown fruits and vegetables, there is a flavor for everyone which gives your guests options. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to go big and impress without slaving over a stove all day. Salad bars are great for all occasions and can easily be served for brunch, lunch or dinner. From carbohydrate lovers to vegetarians, cover all your bases by having a variety of options on your salad bar. We believe a perfect salad bar consists of proteins, healthy fats, and nutrient-dense produce that can cater to lifestyle diet choices.  

Starting with the base, have the option of traditional greens such as spring mix, or spinach on your bar. A fun idea is to use Boston bibb lettuce cups or iceberg wedges for a more creative presentation. Provide pasta, quinoa, or rice for the base for those who aren’t a fan of greens or who want to add a different texture to their bowl. It’s great to have protein options such as sliced chicken, grilled shrimp, or bacon, as well as plant-based options such as tofu, chickpeas, or lentils. This will cover all the diet lifestyles of your guests so there is an option for everyone – carbohydrate enthusiasts, keto-friendly eaters, gluten-free, and vegan diets.

Nothing says celebration better than a rainbow of colors from fresh, healthy, and hydrating vegetables. On those hot summer days, it’s a great bonus that greenhouse grown produce is classified as a natural source of hydration. Salads made with sliced Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers and Poco Bites® Cocktail Cucumbers offer a wonderful size and crunch option. We’ve got a large selection of snacking tomatoes, but we felt the ever-so-sweet Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes with the bright and tangy flavors of Bumbles® Yellow Grape Tomatoes would be great in salads. Adding additional toppings like nuts, seeds, and croutons is also a terrific idea and adds in an extra element of texture. In terms of dressings, we believe that at least three should be provided: a traditional garden dressing such as French, an oil and vinegar dressing, and a creamy base dressing.

THE SWEET DESSERT BAR –

Create a sweet salad bar for either brunch or dessert with our SolaraTM Mini Melons.  It’s like creating your own Personal Paradise in a salad bar! These “me melons” are just the right size for every occasion and are super versatile! How cool are melon bowls that fit in your palm? SolaraTM is the first personal-sized melon grown with just the right amount of light, nutrition, and water to deliver the same sweet Tastefully TropicalTM flavor every time. This Dessert Salad bar with Mini Melons is ideal for breakfast, brunch, or as a healthier option for dessert. You can get really creative with the toppings! Start with yogurt or pudding as a base, then add diced melons, grapes, and berries. Don’t forget to add nuts, seeds, or grains as garnishes! Cashews, peanuts, and almonds are popular choices, or hemp hearts and sesame seeds are excellent nut-free alternatives.

Though fresh greenhouse grown fruits and vegetables are available year-round, salad bars are perfect for summer entertaining. They are easy to set up indoors or outside, are attractive with bright colors, and appeal to a wide range of tastes. Allowing your visitors to choose options for their meal from a salad bar is both nutritious and fun. Enjoy some laughs while enjoying delicious fresh food at an interactive salad bar. There are endless options when it comes to what you offer – get imaginative and set out a variety of foods that lend themselves to various dietary needs and lifestyles. Spending time with family and friends is the perfect way to celebrate Summer and just as vital to your well-being as cultivating beautiful fruits and vegetables in the greenhouse.  The sky is the limit when it comes to creating your very own salad bar that goes beyond the greens!

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