The dressing goes in a separate container

If you want lunch greens that aren’t sad and soggy, keep the dressing separate and pack the wet stuff on the bottom.

The biggest mistake is dressing the salad in the morning. Even a light vinaigrette turns leaves to mush within a couple hours. So the dressing lives in its own little container — always. Dress it at your desk right before you eat.

Next, your greens need to be actually dry. Wash them, spin them hard, and give them a minute to air out. Water is the enemy. If you’re paranoid, toss a paper towel in the container — it collects moisture and keeps the leaves crisp.

For layering: wet vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers at the bottom, then anything sturdy, then greens on top. That way the wet stuff never sits against the leaves. If you’re using a wide-mouth jar, go dressing at the bottom, then wet veggies, then greens, and just shake when it’s lunchtime. Perfectly dressed salad, zero sogginess.

Future You deserves better than a wilted mess at 1 PM.