Salad for breakfast? Your inner child is crying. Nevertheless, breakfast salad is one of the most nutritious and creative breakfast options out there. And the best part? It’s a great way to ensure that all of your greens, veggies, and fruit get used up before their expiration date.

Breakfast Salad: What Is It?

It’s not a complicated concept – it’s a salad you have for breakfast. But things can get complicated (and delicious) when you consider the things that go on top of salad that shouldn’t kick off your day. (Sorry, but probably no ranch.) Aside from a bed of greens (cooked or raw), here are some great options for an AM salad.

Poached or Boiled Eggs

Similar to a cobb salad, a poached or boiled egg (or two) can be a great addition to your salad.

Turkey Bacon

A little healthier than regular bacon, turkey bacon (torn up or crumbled) is also a good option… if you eat meat, that is.

Potatoes

Potatoes (either warm or cold, fingerling or cut-up white/red potatoes) are an extra bit of savory to give you more energy throughout the day.

Olive Oil

Dressing is a bit harsh for a breakfast salad, but a drizzle of olive oil can mimic the texture and add extra flavor, especially if you’re using eggs and potatoes in your salad.

Dried Fruit

If savory isn’t your thing, salad with toppings like dried cranberries or apples can be just the thing your AM salad needs.

Pecans or Almonds

Similar to oatmeal, a handful of pecans or almonds (or your preferred nut) can add the perfect crunch.

Citrus

For sweet salads, orange or grapefruit slices will give a refreshing kick, especially with iceberg lettuce.

Greek Yogurt

A dollop of Greek yogurt is the perfect addition to a savory or sweet morning salad, depending on your preference.

Breakfast Salad: Who is it for?

Not everyone will be down for salad for breakfast, and that’s fine. A pragmatic eater, or someone who eats for fuel, would likely enjoy a breakfast salad, seeing that they prioritize function over frill. Surprisingly, eating types prone to eating bigger portions, like emotional eaters and creative eaters, can also adapt to a morning salad easily. The key is to find flavors and textures best suited for you first thing in the morning and slowly experiment without wasting food – aka, don’t just run out and buy every ingredient you can think of! As a good rule of thumb, treat your morning salad as an opportunity to use up ingredients with a short shelf life.