Lesson I Have Learned: Salad Should Taste Good!

Over the years I have been very strict about what I will allow on a salad. I have used the salad spray dressing that is 10 calories per serving, I have stopped putting chopped nuts my salad, skipped dried fruit and left cheese off the salad. What I have been left with is a dry boring salad that I cannot bear to eat. I have noticed that I eat salad far less frequently and that it has become quite the chore to eat salad. For a person that does not care for cooked vegetables much I need salad daily! I have been a calorie counter and I have been afraid to order salads fearing the worst that they would be 1,000 calories the highest calorie item on the menu, and mean while I have been busy ordering french fries, fried chicken and fried cheese and rich pasta dishes instead. I think there is a such thing as going over board with becoming the calorie police. I may not mind skipping cheese on my daily sandwich, but I would like to add a sprinkle of low-fat cheese to my salad and I am not talking fat-free greek feta unless that is the taste I am going for. I am bringing toppings back to my salads, a few sprinkles of nuts, dried fruit or cheese may add some calories to the zero calorie salad, but to me it is so worth it!!!!!!!!!! Hey it is bad enough I am passing up the milk shake and the fries and having water with my meal. I will not go on an diet that I cannot live with. CLM PS: Speaking of flavor I use real mayo, made with Olive oil on my veggie burgers along with a little mustard, I figure I am off setting it by eating the 100 calorie bread. I believe there needs to be give and take and balance to cutting both calories and fat. I see now that I really need to eat from all the food groups and not just go crazy in any one direction. I also learned I rather eat light pop-corn than fat-free. CLM