We’ve all experienced the sticker shock of a midday run to Whole Foods. Leave it to the insanely-talented number cruncher Nate Silver to figure out how not to get totally ripped off at your local salad bar. The major takeaways here: Baby spinach and mesclun are your most wallet-friendly bases; Ranch and Italian dressings are too be avoided at all costs; sundried-tomatoes are one of the biggest “steals”; and while more costly toppings like walnuts, almonds, gorgonzola crumbles, and croutons might not be great for the waistline, they are an easy way to stick it to the man. [via NYT]