Originally appeared here: Hack Whole Foods 

I am becoming an expert at walking out the door with a $5 Whole Foods salad, and avoiding a $20 salad like I hear others complain of. 

Looks like a mess, but I will explain…

• Start with a bed of spinach or baby greens. This adds bulk to your salad without adding much weight! Skip the romaine which is a little heavier and slightly less nutritious.
• Avoid heavy vegetables and fruits such as tomato, fresh fruit, cucumbers, and baby carrots. High water content equals high cost.
• Choose light-weight veggies or shredded/thinly sliced vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, and cabbage.
• Add other light-weight toppings such as sunflower seeds and dried fruit.
• Choose your protein source wisely. I tend to choose boiled eggs (don’t weight that much), a small scoop of tuna, a few beans, and/or 2 small pieces of tofu.
• Avoid oily foods since heavy fat sources tend to weight more.
• Limit your dressing. Try to add a simple splash of vinegar or a tiny teaspoon of a vinegar-based dressing. Or skip dressing all together.
• Enough is enough. Know when to stop adding toppings. As soon as you start to think, is this enough? Stop adding toppings and put a lid on it!

Other tricks:

• Bring your own salad dressing and sides.
• DO NOT buy fruits from the salad bar. Buy 1 apple or other piece of fruit from somewhere else, and bring it with you for your day. One apple may cost about $1, but from the salad bar could cost $4!
• Try not to buy beverages from Whole Paycheck–there is free filtered water in the cafe eating area.