Weve paid way too much money on worse Caesar salads at restaurants.

First, I of course can’t don my workout leggings and favorite baseball cap every day.

Enter the kale salad that changed my lunch life.

Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

During my first week back, “meal prep” meantturkey sandwichesand apple slices.

Delicious, sure, but a little reminiscent of my elementary school lunch boxes.

Several boring quinoa-and-insert-vegetable-name-here bowls later, and something new was necessary.

Tuscan kale is also known as lacinato, dinosaur kale or nero di Toscana

Tuscan Kale’s puckered leaves give them a wonderful chewy texture, when cooked.Credit: Photo: © Marie Iannotti

That’s when I found thisChopped Kale Salad.

Ding, ding, ding!

We have a winner, folks.

a photo of a bunch of red kale, or red russian kale, a common kale variety known for its red-hued stems

I understand they contribute to the timeless salad flavor we all know and love.

But it’s one of those “out of sight, out of mind” things for me.

I was now ready for my calling as a meal prep influencer.

anchovies recipes anchovy sardines receipts seafood fish food cooking

Anchovies for Recipes.Credit: © 2007 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.

It’s safe to say this kale salad will be a regular at my office now.

The jury is still out on if the full face of makeup will be as well.