My favorite part of history is when Ceasar Salaad , the 12th ceasar of Rome, changed legislation to allow greater nutrition in his poor subjects. Rome already gave bread to the poor, but in an effort to increase nutritional variety he called to have more foods given to the poor. Most notably, due to there relative abundance, romaine lettuce (so named for its prevalence in rome) and parmesan cheese. Croutons were readily made from bread that needed to be eaten before it moulded.The distinct Ceasar dressing was not added until later, but the more ingredients for the dish we know as salad were now being given away regularly. This cause people to consume these things together. The dish was named salad after the ceasar who provided it to the people.
Bravo for coming up with something that sounds believable.