Salad bar was good!! I usually hate chain restaurants (except some of the newer ones like Panera,) but I’m always up for a bar of raw veggies 🙂 I got a little of lots of stuff:
- Spinach/mixed greens on the bottom
- Broccoli
- Shredded carrots
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini strips
- Green pepper
- Peas
- Edamame
- Garbanzo beans
- Beets (!!)
- Black olives
- 2 pasta salad spirals
- Cottage cheese
- Red grapes
- Pumpernickel croutons
- Dried cranberries
Plus low-fat balsamic dressing on the side and 4 saltine crackers.
All-You-Can-Eat Observation: I obviously got the unlimited all-you-can-eat salad bar for lunch. Had I ordered off a menu, I would have never just gotten a salad without soup/half sandwich/significant portion of meat on top. I would have thought that just a salad would leave me still hungry. Today I thought about getting soup or something to go with the salad bar, but I decided I could always go back for more plates until I was full.
As a result, I was able to eat intuitively based on my hunger/fullness level. By the time I made it down to the bottom of my salad (about 20 minutes later) I decided I really was pretty full and didn’t need more. Had I ordered off the menu, I probably would have eaten a salad and something else because it was there and I wouldn’t want it to go to waste (or at least most of it). Guess all-you-can-eat has its pros!
Green Lines
Seeing my dad’s office is always fun. He’s an engineer and showed me his work on a chip for a cell phone radio. “Work” is really a bunch of green lines that he can turn into something meaningful. So strange! His love for engineering was definitely not passed through the genes (although I do love math and organization…)
Walk + Trail Mix
My mom and I concluded her spring break visit with a bit of exercise before we headed to Greensboro. I ran for 3 miles and then walked with her for 30 minutes.
We snacked on trail mix in the car on the way up to lunch.
I am excited about my dinner plans!! The husband is working late so I’m on my own to cook. I find cooking alone to be very therapeutic. I spread everything out and work very methodically and slow when I’m on my own. I can’t believe this day has just flown by. Amazing what 4 hours of driving will do 8)
Romina says
Wow that is a loaded salad!
Kelly T says
Man, i always just assumed Ruby Tuesdays was a burger joint or, like Red Robin. I really need to find one if I can get a huge all you can eat salad.
i like cooking for myself too. I always feel rushed when i cook for the boy and I even if there is no rush whatsoever. Plus, I dont have to think of ways to dress the meal up, i am ok with just steamed veggies as a side or something plain like that.
caitlin (in FL) says
you and your pappy look alike!
Mel #2 says
I love the Ruby Tuesday salad bar! I couldn’t believe, the first time I went there, how bountiful it was. Especially for a “comfort food” place like that. I might have to go back soon!
Lesli says
Yay for Ruby Tuesdays!! My brother is the manager at a Ruby Tuesday’s which means I get free salad bar anytime I visit. Love it! I could get free anything, but it is true, their menu food has very, very horrible nutrional stats. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit with your mother, Kath. Enjoy the rest of your break!
Ally says
I went to Ruby Tuesdays two weeks ago and my salad looked very similar to that! It’s much easier to order a salad rather than mess around with a menu in my opinion. Oh, and one thing I noticed about RT was that their dinner plates were really nice!
Enjoy cooking, I find it therapeutic as well!
Jennifer says
Hi Kath,
Do you find that you feel any different when you have meals or days that you do not count calories?
Emma says
Wow your salad looks great! I like to get the salad and white bean chicken chili combo. I have looked up the nutrition facts online and the calories in it are not bad, but usually after eating the big salad I can only take a few bites!!
Has anyone ever considered workout DVDs? I love Denise Austin. Call me old fashioned but she really keeps me motivated!
Leng says
I can totally see the resemblance between you and your dad. It’s nice that you get to see your parents for spring break. Looks like you’re fully enjoying your time as a student, once again.
That salad looks AMAZING! I knew that looked like edamame!
Claire says
I’ve had that salad bar once and loved it! In fact, I liked the pumpernickel croutons. I generally *don’t* like croutons but these were great.
BethT says
Love the RT salad bar! I’m with you – I normally hate chains, but if that’s an option I will take it.
I also love cooking alone (even though it sometimes makes me eat more than if I had a partner!). I love putting on some music and cooking with a glass of wine. Very soothing.
Kathryn says
My husband and I both LOVE the Ruby Tuesday croutons…probably because they’re soaked in butter. But just a few don’t hurt! We always say they should sell them in grocery stores. I always We’ve only been there a few times, but I always joke that I’m going to take the whole bowl from the salad bar on the way out of the restaurant!
Stacey M says
Interesting link for everyone from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab detailing their conclusions on a variety of food-psychology related topics:
http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/tipsheet.htm
eliza says
the one time I had ruby tuesdays the salad bar was very dissapointing!!!
im glad you found one with such a great, fresh selection
Lindsay says
Yum 🙂 I love Ruby Tuesday’s salad bar too but I’ve never just gotten that and nothing else… I have to follow your advice and just stick w/ the salad… way to go!
treblemaker says
i like the turkeyminiburgers at RT’s. I get it with a small side salad instead of fries.
Megan says
Wow, you look so much like your dad! I love Ruby Tuesday’s as well and would kill to have one where I live. Their salad bar is amazing! I would take that over any burger on their menu any day.
Betsy in Pittsburgh says
I remember going to Ruby Tuesday’s as a kid and getting oreo shakes, cheese sticks and burgers! I haven’t been there in such a long time… My Dad used to always get the salad bar, and give me and my sisters the fun stuff like hard boiled eggs, bacon bits, and croutons. It’s taken me a long time to be the type of person who orders a salad at a restaurant (or eat one period!), and your lunch today is definitely helping me! It looks great!
MLT says
Another shout out for Ruby tuesdays!
My husband and I moved into our apartment last summer and we are right across the street from an RT. There were so many funny little family-owned ethnic restaurants in walking distance that I felt guilty every going to RT, so we didn’t try until Valentines day. Now we go all the time and just get salads- they have the best salad bar! I, too, never expected to find such a health option at a big burger chain. Go all you can eat salad!
Alicia says
I like the picture of you and the dad. It conjures familial bliss and just so sweet.
Salad looks great. I generally don’t do well with buffets as I tend to overeat, even with salad bars as they have things like meat and even dessert.
Kath says
Jennifer ,
I am almost always keeping calories in mind, although it’s usually just a ballpark amount when I eat in restaurants. When I’m choosing what to eat (either at home or in a restaurant) I’m thinking (in not particular order) of food group balance, volume/hunger level, nutrient balance, what I had for breakfast and what’s planned for dinner, what I’m craving, and the calorie ballpark all at once. Sounds like a lot, but it’s usually just a split second decision. On days when I don’t ballpark (Saturday night!) it’s usually because I know there’s no point because I’m way over my target. But I’d say that calorie amounts are pretty intuitive for me since I’ve been doing it a while, so when I say I’m ballparking I don’t mean I’m counting up each food but that I have a sense of how many are in this kind of sandwich or salad or cup of soup.
Thanks for all the sweet comments on my dad!!
Kath
KarenR says
Eliza, I’m so glad you said you had a bad RT salad bar, because mine is awful, too. Everything is pretty skanky looking. I thought I was just crazy, but it obviously depends on the location.
Caroline says
I feel the same way about chain restaurants, but that salad bar definitely makes Ruby Tuesday’s an exception! I really like to order the Veggie Burger (sans cheese and mayo) with the salad bar. Inevitably I fill up on veggies and end up taking at least half the burger home! Nevertheless, I heartily recommend the veggie burger–it tastes homemade, and it’s more substantial than most others I have tried. Plus, it comes on a whole wheat bun. OK, now that I have gushed over the veggie burger, I will wish you good night!
Katie says
Everytime I go to Ruby Tuesdays I always get the salad bar. So great!
You and your dad are too cute! Love the pic. 🙂
JLynn says
Carolina-I hope that veggie burger seems substantial, the RT website says it has 953 calories and 52 grams of fat. I guess it’s one of those foods that sounds like it would be healthy, but isn’t really. At least you order it without cheese and mayo and take half home.
Gaby says
I would like to know the recipe to make the spiral salad pasta the one with tomatoes…