- Melanie Cade, 37, from Alabama, frequently posts her parenting style online
- She recently revealed that she had installed a salad bar in her kitchen.
- The mother of nine revealed it was so her children could eat healthier.
A mother of nine has shown off the impressive salad bar she installed in her kitchen after growing tired of seeing her children eat unhealthy lunches.
Melanie CadeAt 37, she is no stranger to a crowded home, as she is greeted by her nine children and husband when she walks through the doors of their Alabama home.
And while she loves the hustle and bustle that comes with having a large brood, having to prepare nutritious lunches for them at the drop of a hat has left her overwhelmed.
After getting tired of constantly planning healthy meals, the mom decided to install an extensive salad bar in her kitchen, complete with more than 10 dressing options.
Most recently, the mother of nine took to Instagram to show off her new addition while revealing the healthy meal options she gives her kids.
A mother of nine has shown off the impressive salad bar she installed in her kitchen after growing tired of seeing her children eat unhealthy lunches.
She shared footage of herself refilling her salad bar in a clip shared online, which has so far garnered more than 419,000 views.
Melanie revealed that she decided to install it to help her children eat better every day.
She and her husband share nine children together: Anita, 19; TJ, 17; Nathaniel, 14; twins Mason and Madison, 12; Zachary, 8; Jacob, 5; Noah-James, 4; and Charity, 10 months.
In the clip, she showed off the $1,300 salad bar she purchased two years ago at a restaurant supply store.
She explained that she wanted her children to be more self-sufficient and healthier.
In the video, she is seen restocking the salad bar, something she does once or twice a week.
Melanie chopped lettuce and vegetables while placing shredded cheese, turkey, hard-boiled eggs, peppers and more into plastic buckets.
The bottom of their salad bar was filled with various dressings, as well as fruit and cheese sticks.
Melanie Cade, 37, is no stranger to a packed house when she is greeted by her nine children and husband as she walks through the gate of their Alabama property.
The mother of nine said: ‘I top up once or twice a week, depending on how busy we are that week and what our needs are for that particular week.
‘The bottom has two chilled sides. I keep salad plates and bowls on one side so they are cold and ready to use.
‘If any of our children don’t like what we have planned for lunch or dinner, they can have the salad or sandwich bar.
‘As a reminder, before upgrading to this freestanding salad bar, I incorporated the same concept into a drawer in our refrigerator using plastic containers from Walmart. This is totally doable, you just have to get a little creative with your own space and budget.’
The homeschooling mom said the idea for the salad bar came to her during the pandemic.
She said Today:’I have a strict system. My kids eat cookies and chips, but during the pandemic I saw an unhealthy reliance on packaged snacks because they were readily available.
“I watched my children develop bad habits that were convenient and easy for both them and me.”
The mother of nine admitted the family spends about $100 a week on items for their salad bar, such as seasonal fruits and vegetables and whole cuts of meat.
Melanie told the outlet she quickly learned that her kids ate with their eyes, so she knew she had to make healthier foods look more appealing.
She explained: ‘I learned that kids eat with their eyes, so making food aesthetically pleasing gives my kids a ‘wow’ feeling.
“They see the beautiful colors and textures and the variety to choose from.”
The mother of nine said that by sharing her daily life online she wanted others to realise her “potential”.
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