A Salad Bar in Your Home Kitchen Seems ‘Extra’ But It’s Actually Kind of Genius

Growing up can be such a challenge! One minute, your parents are catering to your every whim, and then, just like that, you’re expected to fend for yourself. My daughter is navigating this transition right now. Up until this year, I was making her a customized breakfast each morning before driving her to school. This year, I’ve switched things up by preparing a week’s worth of breakfasts and keeping them in the fridge. She’s now in charge of minimal prep, like popping it in the microwave, before heading to the bus. For typical kids, this might be a small step, but for neuro-atypical kids and their moms, it’s a giant leap!

It has been going so well that I decided to apply the same meal prep strategy to after-school snacks. Back in the '80s and '90s, we didn’t really bring snacks to school. There were vending machines, but with my tiny allowance, I could only afford one Whatchamacallit bar on Fridays. I remember coming home from school and devouring whatever was in the fridge, which often wasn’t the healthiest choice. My daughter’s go-to snacks were usually ramen noodles or cookies, so I decided to step up my nutrition game.

Now, I prepare an after-school charcuterie for her. I use meal prep bento boxes and fill them with a variety of fruits and veggies like cauliflower, carrots, sugar snap peas, olives, cucumbers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, cuties, apple slices, and grapes. I also include a cheese stick and a couple of slices of meat like salami or nitrate-free ham. It’s been a game-changer—she loves it and always gives me feedback on what she enjoyed and what she’d like more of.

I thought my charcuterie idea was pretty clever until I stumbled upon Melanie Renee’s setup. Melanie, a mom of eleven with a huge social media following, posts about taking care of and feeding her large family. At first, I thought her kitchen setup was over-the-top and a bit of a space-waster. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was actually brilliant.

She has a salad bar right on her kitchen counter!

I know, right?

Why You Should Think About Putting a Salad Bar in Your Home Kitchen

In her video, Melanie explains that she stocks her salad bar once a week with fresh fruits, veggies, meats, and cheeses. This setup keeps everything organized and gives her kids a variety of healthy options they can easily grab and use themselves. Instead of grabbing a granola bar or crackers, they can whip up a salad with their favorite ingredients. It’s such a clever idea!

Having fresh chopped fruits and vegetables readily available A. gives us a quick meal option because the salad bar because the salad bar is always stocked and open, and B. my children are more likely to choose fresh produce if it's already prepped and ready to eat.

At first, I thought the salad bar must take up a ton of counter space, but then I realized that I barely use the back half of my counter—it’s just a catch-all for clutter. Plus, this setup could be fantastic for home gatherings, offering guests a variety of fresh options. Melanie also mentioned that if one of her kids isn’t thrilled with dinner, they can always make themselves a salad. It’s such a practical and versatile idea.

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So, yes, I’m definitely planning a salad bar for our next home! If you’re thinking about adding one too, here’s the link to Melanie’s Amazon storefront to help you get started with your own home renovation.