Hi all! I know this is awful, but I'm 34 years old and have never eaten vegetables. My grandmother never made me, therefore, I never did. Pure meat and potatos here!
For some reason, my tastes are changing and I am wanting to try new things, and for some unknown reason, I want to try a salad.
NOW, I have tried salad dressings before, and cannot stand the tangy, bitter, tart tastes of them. And as for the salad itself, I'm going to start with lettuce, parmesan cheese, grilled chicken, croutons and sliced carrots. I do not think I can ever eat tomato's...
I need help trying a salad dressing, I want something, I guess, cheesy? or something different?
I have tried: thousand island, ranch, cesar?, blue cheese, and they were yucky!!!
I know this is just sad, but I'm trying!!!!
Please advise!
Have you tried plain mayo? Thin it with a bit of water or milk, just enough so it will pour.
Many dressings are a fat and an acid.
olive oil, vegetable oil, mayo for the fat
lemon juice, vinegar, balsamic vinegar(sweeter), lime juice
Start with the fat/oil you like, then try adding the acid of your choice. Then sweetener (honey or sugar)
You can also use bacon and bacon fat for a dressing base.
Good luck.
I know you said you didn't like blue cheese dressing, I don't like it alone either but I LOVE it with french dressing. I don't know if you have french dressing there but I really love those two together.
Have you tried honey mustard? What about Italian? I like the Paul Newman Family Recipe Italian. Maybe you should go to a restaurant and ask for a bunch of samples of dressings so you can try a big variety without having to buy a bunch. Although IMO, dressings at restaurants are always better, but it might not be a bad idea for you.
what great ideas from you both! I especially like the sampling, I went to the salad dressing aisle and was overwhelmed! I'll have to try them both.
I do not understand why people think you need to have salad dressing on salad. Salad taste great without it and no extra calories. I get the strangest looks from waiters and friends when I have a salad and no dressing. Try using Romain lettuce and baby spinach in your salad. I am not one for many cooked veggies, but I love raw veggies. I also put boiled eggs, olives and cucumbers.
you know, I never thought of it that way, remember, this is uncharted waters for me!
I am used to seeing everyone put dressings on their salads, I never thought about not having one at all... I'm a dunce.
WOW, I have never heard of a 34 year old salad virgin! 
Try a red bell pepper. They are SO sweet and delicious, and are a nutritional powerhouse.
I sometimes grill a thick top sirloin steak, slice it thinly across the grain, and top a big leafy green salad with lovely slices of steak. The juice from the meat acts as the salad dressing.
Oh, you have such a fun adventure ahead of you! The produce section at the grocery store holds many delicious wonders. 
Try shopping at Central Market on Westheimer for the very best produce.
(psss..Houstonian here too!)
I think that things taste differnen in certain foods. I would never bite into a tomato but like them in a taco salad. I would not eat in a sandwhich either!
My daughter eats green beans like they are french fries!
True that you do need dressing but I love french and ranch!
Another thing I had was cornbread croutons!
I didn't start eating salads til my late 20's. I use iceburg lettuce,eggs,sunflower seeds, Melba toast crunched up( I vary the flavors onion, or garlic depends on what I have on hand) I also mix 2 different dressings. Ranch and Dorthy Lynch I don't know if they have it where you are. It is made locally. If they don't have it at a resurant I ask for french with the ranch.
My Taco salad consists of the Iceburg,Taco meat, refried beans, crunched up white corn chips, Cheddar cheese and my Dorthy Lynch
Dang now I am craving a salad 
You can have a lot of fun with this. Go to the store and get yourself a few different kinds of salad dressing, from different types. Like get Italian, a balsalmic vinigrette, a roasted red pepper kind, maybe a raspberry vingrette, and a red french. Stay away from the creamy ones, they seem to not be your favorite. Then sit down with a bag of salad. I suggest starting out with the bagged type, and here's why. You've never eaten vegetables and don't know what kind you'll like. If you get a bagged mix that has iceburg, romaine and some other leafy greens, you can see which ones you like. Wash the lettuce first even though it says it's washed because it seems to have a taste to it sometimes. Then start experimenting. Start out with a piece of iceburg. It's the most common lettuce, and even though it doesn't have much nutritional value, it's a good tasting lettuce. Put a little dab of dressing on the lettuce and try it. Find a dressing you like, then start experimenting with the other lettuces. Try adding some shredded carrots to the mix, too. Have fun with it and let us know what you find out you like!
-Heather
Also, if you're ameat and potatoes kind of girl, try adding some vegetables in to your meat dishes. Add some carrots, onions and celery to your pot roast. Add some bell peppers with some chicken. Try chinese food!
-Heather
ya'll are gonna laugh, but I've actually never been further into the produce section than where the potatos are! Its been uncharted waters to me!!!
Thank you all for the great comments! I never really thought about the ideas ya'll have given me so it's like a whole new world! At least I'm learning about the different types of lettuce and all that. I thought that all lettuce would taste the same, but apparently not!
I'll let ya'll know what happens, I'm going to the store this weekend, my husband went yesterday and came back saying there was no way he could pick a dressing out for me, there was a whole aisle for salad stuff and he said he wasn't risking it!
Cakepro! You are too funny! I am in NW Houston, where are you?
Good for you for being bold and trying something new. I love salads!! I put lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, lettuce, beets, pickles, celery, cucumber, whatever is in the fridge. If you like honey mustard, O'Charley's has one in the produce section that is fantastic and I agree about the balsamic vinagrette, it is very good and not tart.
Let us know what you think...
Cindy
Cakepro! You are too funny! I am in NW Houston, where are you?
I'm in the Pearland area.
Don't forget, here in Texas (or maybe it's the entire South, I can't remember), EVERYTHING'S better with Ranch dressing on it!
I'm sitting here thinking what could you use for dressing since pretty much every salad dressing is somewhat tangy. Since you've never had a salad and aren't used to the "conventional" why not try something like BBQ sauce or queso or even spaghetti sauce. Instead of thinking salad dressing just think of sauces you already like and go ahead and give it a try. It never hurts to try things. The rule ar our house is you can't say you hate it unless you've tried it. that means chewing it up and swalloing it LOL. After that if you don't like it fine, I won't make you eat it.
okay!!!
Yesterday I had: Boston lettuce, parmesan cheese, grilled chicken, croutons and a side dish of 3 Cheese Ranch, which I was not too keen on, but it was okay. I couldn't believe I actually LIKED it!!!! And I was full!!
I always used to think, how can someone just eat a salad??? But it was filling! I'm sorry I'm such a dork, ya'll are probably just laughing away!
But something else funny. So I go to the produce section, and I'm waiting for my husband to catch up, and I'm saying to him, "now which one?" he says "um no honey, bagged salad is not the route you are going..." LOL so then we went and I saw about 10 types of lettuce! Glad he went with me. I actually liked the Boston one, it didn't taste like regular lettuce.
Are ya'll proud of me?
Here's a great salad recipe:
Apple Greens Salad
Mixed greens - washed and torn into pieces (u can use a bag of salad mix or the boston since you said you liked it - it's more tender than other lettuces)
Sliced apples - braeburn, fuji, or gala
Pecans
Seasoned croutons
shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Poppy seed dressing to taste
Toss all together and serve immediately. Really good, slightly sweet salad.
EverlastingSweets, you sound exactly like my friend Stacy who lives in North Houston. What a coincidence! I'm down here in Pearland too.
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