Why Salad?

No seriously why? why does that word hold so much connotation? Why does salad just immediately turn us off. Even those who love vegetables sometimes look at that plate of mixed greens just staring back at you saying hey, you and me both know this isn't going to be pleasant. I don't know what it is but a salad, to me, never sounds all that appealing. Maybe because lately its the only vegetable i get everyday. Our cafeteria at school has progressively gotten worse and worse, after last years phase out of all the specialty things they used to be able to do for us, until Aramark started cracking down. They are a multi billion, that's right billion dollar company who is taking out there corporate greed on little old lake forest college. now  know food prices have gone up but the food we used to get freshmen and sophomore year (for less money too) was way better with much more variety than the stuff we get now. We live for the 2 days a month now that we get fresh red grapes, knowing that is the best fruit we are going to get, unlike before when we could expect fresh fruit like grapes and strawberries weekly. Sunday brunch used to be the best too, now we are lucky if we get frozen mango.

But back to salads. So I try to eat vegetables at least once in day, but the hot vegetables they serve in our cafeteria are most often peas, corn, or mixed veggies that are soggy and that I wont eat even when they are fresh. There green beans don't really taste right but I will eat them on rare occasion. If they have broccoli (about once a week?) I will eat that. but 95% of the time I am stuck with a small salad. And I am a little picky about my salads, so when I am eating the same thing every day it kind of sucks. Lettuce, Tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots, occasionally 1 additional ingredient to try and make it better. Then its time to douse it in ranch or Thousand, because heaven forbid I have the will power to add "just a touch of vinaigrette" as people do. It also doesn't help that the vegetables from our salad bar taste terrible, they are covered with chemicals. I never thought I'd meet a tomato that I didn't like until now. I mean really why do you have to ruin the only fresh option we have, the salad bar?

Don't get me wrong, I know that many colleges are a lot worse, I mean by a lot, and we still have it pretty good. And I know there are starving children and hungry people all over the world who wouldn't complain. We could feed an army with the amount of food waste are school produces, so I try to waste as little as possible, and when say I realize I'm only going to eat half of something I will always try and find someone who wants the other half. I do try and do my part. Also see "PS at the end of this post.

But seriously food is such a "thing" in our lives. its crazy. and it just makes me want to talk about it even if it is to complain. But maybe we need different names for things. As i said before why salad? Maybe next time I should tell myself that I'm just gong to go eat a bowl of vegetables? But the word vegetables doesn't rank that well in my head either. But maybe it would make my daily lunch and dinner diet more appealing if I got more creative. Seriously I end up eating the same thing basically everyday in our cafeteria for both lunch and dinner.

Protein: Some form of chicken (usually fried), a hot dog, or on RARE occasion when they have it, beef/roast.
Veggie: Fucking Salad.
Carb: French fry/Potato or sometimes rice.

And that's about it. The alternative is to get a sandwich which then just combines all three food groups into one thing. It's so boring and I am so sick of eating the same things. Whats even worse is that I feel bad for my vegetarian and vegan friends who have almost no options except chemical salad or french fries/Potatoes. I mean they are required to serve at least one hot vegetarian dish but its not always vegan and its not usually very good.

I long for the day next may when I no longer live in a college dorm. I pay for a meal plan and its easy and convenient. Its also required unless you petition a serious dietary restriction. I had the experience of living and buying all my own groceries last semester and it really was so much better. I spent way less money than I pay for a meal plan, and the food was hell of a lot better.

Oh food. I wish I didn't have to deal with you sometimes.

PS: My disclaimer of sorts: I am a big supporter of the Benkadi project, which works to help the people of Guinea West Africa in multiple ways, including supporting initiatives that improve access to food and have clean drinking water. It main initiative is education. find out more here: http://medusadrums.com/benkadi.htm

I do my part to help, so I feel I am allowed to complain once and a while. hmph.

Peace
Sam