One of the things we do best at The Wharf Marketplace is salad and fresh produce! The Wharf Marketplace recently won Best Salad in Monterey County; we can thank our fresh, local produce, and loyal guests for our success.
Salinas grown Artisan Lettuces
Mixed Artisan Lettuces, Curly Kale, Quinoa, Yellow Peach, and Black Berry
The Artisan Lettuce we carry is amazingly lush and unique. It includes three types of lettuce that hold different nutritional benefits, and make for the perfect, colorful salad. In addition, our other lettuces such as, Field Fresh Red Leaf, romaine hearts, and iceberg are grown locally in Salinas (April - September), and always offered at everyday low prices. Our curly kale is sensational and adds the perfect texture and taste to the house favorite Curly Kale Salad. Not only do we have a variety of leafy greens you will want in your salads; we also have cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and other fresh, local produce to compliment your dinner party with friends and family. Furthermore, the kale and spinach are not only fantastic in salad, but are perfect for smoothies, and our romaine is exceptional for lettuce wraps. Have you been to the salad bar at The Wharf Marketplace? It has all the healthy toppings you could possibly wish for. We use fresh seasonal veggies, fruit, and you can choose salmon, tri- tip, or chicken as your protein. The salad bar is perfect for lunch with a friend, or if you’re in a hurry on your lunch break. We are open till seven, so you can always stop in for dinner too! Some of the house favorite are: The Salinas Cowboy or the Seared Salmon Salad. Not exactly what you were looking for? That’s perfect, you can get creative and make your own salad with 5 toppings for only $7.99 - See you soon.Nutritional Benefits and Tips Leafy greens such as our kale, spinach, romaine, and artisan lettuce are full of nutrients and are overwhelmingly good for you. We mostly eat these greens in our salads or smoothies which usually contain other healthy ingredients. Calcium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, folate, and fiber are all found in leafy greens. The fiber in these leafy greens have been known to reduce cholesterol levels, certain cancers, obesity, diabetes, and constipation. Romaine Lettuce can have up to 232mg of potassium in one cup and spinach has even more per cup. Potassium is a major nutrient of the body and Americans are often deficient. Potassium plays a major role in regulating our blood pressure, and has been associated in lowering the risk of heart disease.Here are some tips to ensure your salad is healthy:
- Include a mixture of greens, spinach, kale, lettuce, or romaine.
- Stay away from creamy dressings. Try to stick to olive oil and vinegar based dressings. My favorite is TWM balsamic vinaigrette.
- Limit croutons, cheese, salted or candied nuts, and other toppings that are high in sodium or fat.
- Load your salad up with bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, apples, or pomegranate seeds. We have all of these items at the TWM salad bar. These ingredients are nutrient dense and low in calorie.
- Try to stick to only 3oz. of lean protein including: chicken, salmon, tofu, soybeans, egg, etc.
Some of us would love to eat more salad, but where is the time?!Salads can be time consuming. I know everyone is extremely busy with their careers, kids, and the list goes on. I personally love salad for many reasons; you feel amazing after eating one, you can be creative, and you can eat a huge, healthy salad without consuming an outrageous amount of calories. I know that some of us are salad lovers, but it can be difficult to find the time or energy to put forth into our salad making.Here are some tips that have helped me to eat more salad:
- Wash your romaine, spinach, kale for the week. Keep it in the fridge, wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel (helps to keep it fresh). The artisan lettuce we sell is packaged in a wonderful container; perfect for storing your lettuce after you have washed and chopped it.
- Prep your salads for the next few days. If you’re making a salad for dinner, make one for the next day as well. You will want to put the dressing and certain toppings on right before you eat, but for the most part you can prep your salad days before.
- Always have fresh, clean to go containers with dressing cups, so you can take your salads on the go.
- Find a good place to stop on the way home from work that has fresh, healthy salads. It is always good to have a place in mind; in case you are exhausted from a busy day or in a rush.
- One for the parents! Have your kids make the salad for dinner! It will be one less thing you have to do and it will teach your kids to be healthier eaters.
TWM Artisan Lettuce
I hope my tips and information helped you to become more enthused about salad and curious of our products at The Wharf Marketplace. If you just need a head of romaine and some fresh produce for dinner, we are the perfect stop. The Wharf Marketplace is looking forward to seeing you soon!