Think of a salad as a great opportunity to meet the recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid. For example, you should be eating three to five servings of vegetables daily, which translates to a half-cup each of such foods as broccoli, carrots, kale or red bell pepper slices.
Most people have a hard time eating enough vegetables.
Nibbling on raw veggies or having a serving of plain steamed ones may not be appealing. However, a salad with sauteed or steamed vegetables can be interesting. Whole grains are another category in which people fall short. You may have no trouble eating six or more servings of white bread or pasta or breakfast cereal, but grains, such as oats, whole wheat and barley, are another story. Whole grains have a much livelier flavor when dressed and served in a salad.