These Photos Show How COVID-19 Has Changed Salad Bars
Updated: Aug. 18, 2020
They don't have salad, but they will make you laugh.
Generally, people fall into one of two camps with salad: You either adore it, or you fall into the Parks and Recreation Ron Swanson group (to quote him, “this is the food that my food eats”).
But love ’em or hate ’em, you must’ve noticed how salad bars have changed since the pandemic started. Namely, they’ve changed because there aren’t any: because of restrictions on self-serve food items, salad bars in many places have shifted to pre-packaged meals, just one of the things that have changed in grocery stores since the pandemic. But some places have found other uses for that space—and they’re sure to bring a smile to your face.
They’re creative and hilarious
How can you look at these and not smile? For example, take this Dierbergs Markets store in Missouri, which switched out the salad bar for a booze bar (we certainly approve).
My grocery store has replaced the salad in the salad bar with…. liquor. pic.twitter.com/eGemUkvbj8
— Emily A. (@emzorbit) May 19, 2020
And there’s another one that made the “salad to alcohol” transformation. It still advertises its $6.99 salads… while stacking the display with White Claw.
Salad Bar COVID style….@WhiteClaw @HarrisTeeter pic.twitter.com/hnlxolk2jR
— Scott Harkey (@scott_harkey) July 19, 2020
Not a big drinker? That’s OK, because this store has you covered with all the Mountain Dew you could ever want. Seriously. It’s a wall of Dew, and we’re obsessed with it.
Best. Salad. Bar. Ever.
Thank you #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/ViSqjkJJnp
— Greg Petersen (@GregJPete) May 10, 2020
Someone has a healthy sense of irony at this store, since they switched out salads for various cakes and desserts, one of which looks like a giant burger. We’ll take that instead of the salad, it’s totally fine! Something to think about when you pick up your desserts from the store: should you be disinfecting the containers when you get home?
Covid Casualties.
What was once a salad bar is now a place to display a cake that looks like a cheeseburger. pic.twitter.com/Pza9J4itLk
— Zachary (@ZachIsHere) July 23, 2020
They weren’t the only ones to go from a salad bar to a candy bar. Check out Schnuck’s, which stacked its dedicated salad space with peanut clusters and almond chocolate bars (hey, nuts are healthy, right?).
The @SchnuckMarkets take on the salad bar in COVID Times ? ? ? spotted at Schnucks Hampton pic.twitter.com/iDOe3WjGHS
— Janelle O’Dea (@jayohday) June 19, 2020
And, lastly, this must’ve been a beautiful sight during the dark, toilet paper-less days in March and April.
The COVID salad bar … bagged vegetables with a side of toilet paper (only $1.25 per roll, as inexpensive as a bread roll) pic.twitter.com/vIC7BsgkzU
— Jason Wollmuth (@jason_wollmuth) April 21, 2020
Here’s how to make an awesome salad, minus the bar
If you miss being able to stroll down the aisle and pick whatever you wanted from those shiny silver trays, never fear—you can make just as great a salad at home. Fortunately, we have plenty of salad recipes to try.
