Recently the New York Times published “How To Beat the Salad”; which is a great day-to-day opportunity to amp your dietary strat. Based on prices found at the Whole Foods in Manhattan’s Union Square, with a variety of items, certain ones should definitely be avoided.

Like most salad bars, the price is fixed per pound; in our case $7.99/lb. The variance is on the retail cost per item, ranging from a low of $1.49/lb (cucumbers) to the priciest item of ‘Bacon bits’ at $21.28/lb, or 166% greater than the bar!

Now that you know operations, let’s get down to the strat. For a base layer, your best move is Mesclun or Baby Spinach. Romaine should be avoided as it is available at 61% below our baseline of $7.99. You can save 25% by topping your base with sun-dried tomatoes or almonds, and if Gorgonzola crumbles favors your palate, they will do the same for your wallet. As for dressing, the house takes the profit across the board, but since you’re paying for convenience your best choice is Balsamic Vinegar or Blue Cheese.

Here’s the full breakdown, bon appétit!