Is it unhealthy to eat a lot of salads?

[Parks]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 3:21pm

Over the last week, I have started eating a LOT of salad (usually one for lunch and one for dinner). Some of my friends have tried warning me that it's unhealthy to eat so many salads and that I need other food. Whenever I am hungry, I'll usually snack on Baked Lays, peanuts, apples, bananas or other healthy snacks, but I've been mostly eating salads (which always have chicken on them for protein).

Is it actually unhealthy to eat so much salad?

Updated On: 9/12/08 at 03:21 PM

[Maraclea2]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 3:27pm

As long as your getting protein and carbs along with the veggies (which it seems you are) then it's not unhealthy at all.
I would imagine you'll tire of all salad all the time at some point though.

[Parks]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 3:43pm

I don't plan on doing this for a long time--not this extreme, anyway--but I'm just trying eating healthier and salads are easy to get here at school, and I'm still looking for other options. Thanks :).

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 3:44pm

The only downside I can think of is, it may cause you to "go" a lot.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 3:49pm

I think as long as you are adding the chicken for protein, and getting some complex carbs, it's fine.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 3:58pm

Yeah, it's fine, as long as you are eating other stuff too. And always, if you can get a salad with romaine lettuce over iceberg, it's better. Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value to it, as it is mostly water.

[The Grovers Corners Yenta]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 4:01pm

I would be careful of dressing.........it contains a great deal of fat.

[Mistress Overdone]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 4:19pm

I second both Marianne2 (romaine is good, spinach is better) and Grovers Corners Yenta (hooray for vinaigrette!)

You can always add protein with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, nuts and meat slices; and can add carbs with bread cubes (be wary of croutons, they're full of fat and sodium). Add sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, or poppy seeds for low-fat crunch and texture.

My favorite salad dressing:

1 cup grapeseed oil (find it in the Kosher section)
1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
3 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 tsp. chopped parsley
1/8 tsp. pepper
dash salt

Pour all ingredients into a glass jar (a washed-out jelly jar is excellent), cap, and shake well until blended. Store in refrigerator for several weeks.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 5:53pm

I can't speak for humans, but I do know that my friend's rabbit had serious diarrhea and all kinds of digestive problems after being fed too much lettuce. But salads probably aren't too bad unless you're loading them up with cheese and dressing.

[Parks]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 6:47pm

The dressing I've been using has been Lite Italian--fat free :).

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 6:54pm

Yenta took the words out of my mouth, but sounds like you're doing great.

Things like Chinese Chicken Salad can be deceptively fattening. As much as a burger and fries, depending on the ingredients.

Not all salads are created equal, in other words!

But you're doing the fat-free thing and that's great! Protein, carbs and the odd piece of fruit wouldn't hurt either.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 6:57pm

Make sure you are getting some fat. Olive Oil on one of those salads would be good. You brain needs fat to function! Everything in moderation, nothing to excess. Live by those words and you remain issue free!

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 7:27pm

If only, JB2... if only.

[Urban]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 5:34am

You are doing the right thing, so congratulations and good work on taking an pro-active stance on your health! Right on!

Also remember the one cardinal rule of salads: no matter what they say, there is no such thing as fat free mayonnaise.

[wink]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 7:45am

Sometimes I think your body craves what it needs. If I go a few days without eating fresh fruits or vegetables, then the next weeks it seems like I can't get enough of them. The same seems true for me for dairy products. If I don't take a calcium supplement for a while, I start craving milk and cheese.

Get your protein in, though.

[kooky]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 9:19am

Are you related to Bugs Bunny ?

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 9:51am

"Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value to it"

Not true, I've listed the nutritional value below.

love iceberg lettuce in a salad. The crunch factor is wonderful. It's fiber just like other lettuces,. It's especially good in my chinese chicken salad.

Also-I do get the runs if I eat two salads a day, or if I eat too large a salad once a day.

One cup of iceberg lettuce:

8 calories
0.5 gram protein
0.7 gram fiber
10 mg calcium
78 mg potassium
1.5 mg vitamin C
16 mcg folate
13.3 mcg of vitamin K
164 mcg beta carotene
152 mcg of lutein

Updated On: 9/13/08 at 09:51 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 10:13am

TMI all around, there, Jane.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 10:13am

I agree totally with wink



and...you'd have to eat a LOT of salad to have it be unhealthy....(and now I have a visual of Jane running all over Central Park....thank you Jane!) You did mean jogging, right? ;oP

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 1:38pm

"TMI all around, there, Jane"

So sorry! And I thought I was making the statement more palatable~ oops. sorry.