As a kid I was a pretty picky, unhealthy eater.  We were also pretty poor so we seldom went out to eat.  I did used to love the treat of going out to a real restaurant except when they would bring out the most vile creation known to man.... The Salad...

You couldn't have paid me to eat a salad, except for maybe the french dressing (this was before ranch dressing/yes, I'm that old) and a crouton, and I'm sorry, but I still find French dressing to be gross today.  I would request that they not even bring the salad to the table as I couldn't stand to even look at it in my plate.

I have grown out of my aversion to salads and we tend to eat them almost daily, and the cool thing is that both of my kids LOVE salad.  It is probably their most requested meal. 

 I think alot of me hating them as a kid was because they were the standard iceburg lettuce with a few julienned carrots a tomato and a dollop of dressing.  I don't know that I would eat this now even.

When I think salad I like to think of greens of every color and variety, and not always green at that.  I like to think of what vegetables are in season.  What meats, cheeses and fruits go well together.  Toppings include walnuts, sprouts, or other nuts or seeds.  Then consider the choices for dressings.  There are so many more than Ranch... basalmic vinagrette are a favorite and I am experimenting with making my own, too.  Add a muffin and your meal is complete.