Lettuce celebrate: Schroeder’s one thousandth salad

MEGAN NEELEY
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

1/20/2025

Alma College student Cohen Schroeder (’25) hit a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, Jan. 15, when he celebrated eating his one thousandth salad at the college’s dining hall, affectionately known as SAGA.

The event, which garnered attention across campus, was made even more special with a wave of graphic posters circulating throughout the campus-community, inviting students, faculty, and staff to join in the celebration and support Schroeder on this unique achievement.

“I wasn’t expecting such a large outpouring of support… I was just doing what I had done 990-something times before when my friend Tyler Horstman (’26) said I needed to create a poster and advertise ‘Salad 1,000′” said Schroeder. “From this, it spread like wildfire as friends of friends reposted.”

The posters, which included details of the event and its significance, helped turn the SAGA moment into a lively celebration, drawing a crowd of approximately 50 individuals eager to witness the occasion and cheer on the dedicated salad enthusiast. “When it came time to eat the salad, the back of SAGA was filled,” said Schroeder.

The poster, designed to build excitement for the event announced that Schroeder would be dressed in his finest attire at approximately 6:25 p.m. and encouraged attendees to do the same. It also provided key details, including that the event was free to watch, though a meal swipe would be required for entry to SAGA.

Schroeder is a long-time salad eater of the college as this habit began on his first day here. “I at my first salad on my first day here. I wanted to a healthy and filling alternative to the fried foods that I knew SAGA would be predominately providing and I landed on that of all things,” said Schroeder.

To recreate Schroeder’s famous salad, start with a base of spinach, then add candied walnuts, olives, feta cheese, bacon bits, and your favorite dressing. However, one key ingredient has been missing: the raspberry vinegarette that was once served at the salad. “I miss it every day,” said Schroeder, reflecting on how the absence of this dressing has impacted the original recipe he relied on for his first many salads.

The campus posters also featured a playful FAQ section, tackling some of the most pressing questions about Schroeder’s remarkable achievement. When asked, ‘Is this guy insane?’ Schroeder’s response was straightforward: ‘Yes, I am insane.’ The poster also addressed the accuracy of his salad count, with Schroeder assuring the public that his tally has been ‘peer-reviewed.’

“I didn’t set out to eat and count 1,000 salads. It kinda just happened. The first few salads were very good, and I realized I had eaten them at every meal for my first week and that’s when I decided “Why not start counting?'” said Schroeder. “So that’s exactly what I did.”

The poster closed with a heartfelt note for those wondering if it was all just ‘spinach and dressing.’ In a lighthearted twist, Schroeder shared the message: ‘The real salad is the friends we made along the way.’

“I don’t love public attention all that much, but being able to bring all those people together in the name of being silly and sharing something that has been a big part of my college career was an amazing feeling,” said Schroeder.