- Melanie Cade, 37, from Alabama, frequently posts her parenting style online
- She recently announced that she had installed a salad bar in her kitchen
- The mother of nine children revealed that this was to help her children eat healthier
A mother of nine has shown off the impressive salad bar she installed in her kitchen after she grew tired of watching her children eat unhealthy lunches.
For Melanie Cade, 37, a crowded home is nothing new. When she walks through the door of her Alabama home, she is greeted by her nine children and her husband.
And although she loves the hustle and bustle that comes with having a large brood, she is overwhelmed by the task of packing her children a nutritious lunch on a moment’s notice.
When the mother got bored of constantly planning healthy meals, she decided to set up a spacious salad bar in her kitchen – complete with more than 10 options for toppings.
The mother of nine recently boasted about her newest addition to the family on Instagram and revealed what healthy meals she offers her children.
A mother of nine has shown off the impressive salad bar she installed in her kitchen after getting fed up of watching her children eat unhealthy lunches
She shared footage of herself restocking her salad bar in an online clip that has been viewed more than 419,000 times.
Melanie said she decided to install it to help her children eat better meals every day.
She and her husband have 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 bought from a restaurant supply store two years ago.
She explained that she wanted more independence and better health for her children.
In the video you can see her stocking the salad bar, which she does once or twice a week.
Melanie chopped lettuce and vegetables and filled plastic buckets with grated cheese, turkey, boiled eggs, peppers and more.
The lower part of their salad bar was filled with various dressings as well as fruit and cheese sticks.
Melanie Cade, 37, is no stranger to being in a full house as she is greeted by her nine children and husband as she walks through the door of their Alabama estate
The mother of nine said: “I fill the lid once or twice a week, depending on how busy we are that week and what we need that week.”
“The base has two chilled sides. I keep salad plates and bowls on one side so they’re chilled and ready to use.”
“If one of our children doesn’t like what we have planned for lunch or dinner, they are welcome to help themselves to something from the salad/sandwich bar.”
“As a reminder, before switching to this freestanding salad bar, I implemented the same concept in a drawer of our refrigerator using plastic containers from Walmart. It’s totally doable, you just have to be a little creative with your own space and budget.”
The mother, who homeschools her children, explained that the idea for the salad bar came to her during the pandemic.
She told Today: “I have a strict regimen. My kids eat biscuits and chips, but during the pandemic I’ve seen an unhealthy dependence on packaged snacks because they were readily available.”
“I saw my children develop bad habits that were comfortable and easy for both them and me.”
The mother of nine admitted that 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 that she quickly realized her children eat with their eyes, so she needed to make healthier foods look more appealing.
She explained: “I’ve learned that children eat with their eyes. So it’s a ‘wow’ experience for my children when they prepare aesthetically pleasing food.”
“They see the beautiful colors and textures and the variety they can choose from.”
The mother of nine children explained that by publishing her daily life online, she wants to help others realize their “potential.”
