Mom-of-nine installs incredible $1,300 salad bar so her kids eat healthier and become more self-sufficient

A mom-of-nine has showed off the impressive salad bar she installed in her kitchen after she grew tired of watching her kids munch on unhealthy lunches. 

Melanie Cade, 37, is no stranger to a packed home as she is welcomed by her nine children and her husband when she walks through the doors of her Alabama house. 

And while she loves the rowdiness that comes along with having a large brood, having to pack her kids nutritious lunches in a pinch has left her overwhelmed.

After growing tired of constantly planning healthy meals, the mom decided to install a sprawling salad bar in her kitchen - complete with more than 10 topping options. 

Most recently, the mom-of-nine took to Instagram to boast about her newest addition as she lifted the lid on the healthy meal options she gives her children. 

A mom-of-nine has showed off the impressive salad bar she installed in her kitchen after she grew tired of watching her kids munch on unhealthy lunches

She shared footage of herself restocking her salad bar in a clip shared online, which has so far garnered more than 419,000 views. 

Melanie revealed she decided to install it to help her kids eat better meals on a daily basis.

She and her spouse 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 that she purchased two years ago from a restaurant supply store. 

She explained that she wanted her kids to be more self-sufficient and healthier. 

The video saw her restocking the salad bar, which she does once or twice a week. 

Melanie chopped up lettuce and vegetables as she put shredded cheese, turkey, boiled eggs, peppers and more in plastic buckets.

The bottom part of her salad bar was filled with various dressings as well as fruits and cheese sticks. 

Melanie Cade, 37, is no stranger to a packed home as she is welcomed by her nine children and her husband when she walks through the door of her Alabama property

The mom-of-nine said: 'I fill the top 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 refrigerated sides. I keep salad plates and bowls on one side so that they are chilled and ready for use.

'If one of our children doesn’t care for what we have planned for lunch or dinner, he or she is welcome to partake from the salad/sandwich bar.

'As a reminder, before upgrading to this stand-alone salad bar, I incorporated the same concept in a drawer in our fridge using plastic containers from Walmart. This is totally doable, you just have to be a bit creative with your own space and budget.' 

The mom - who homeschools her children - explained that the idea for the salad bar came to her during the pandemic. 

She told Today: 'I run a tight ship. My kids eat cookies and chips but during the pandemic, I saw an unhealthy dependency on pre-packaged snacks because they were readily available.

'I saw my kids developing bad habits that were convenient and easy for both them and myself.' 

The mom-of-nine admitted that the family spends about $100 per week on items for their salad bar such as seasonal fruit and vegetables and whole cuts of meat. 

Melanie told the outlet that she quickly learned that her children ate with their eyes so she knew she had to make healthier foods look more appealing. 

She explained: 'I’ve learned that kids eat with their eyes so making food aesthetically pleasing feels, "Wow," to my children. 

'They see the beautiful colors and textures and the variety to choose from.' 

The mom-of-nine noted that by sharing her day-to-day life online she wanted others to realize their 'potential.'