Crossword Genius

Innocent years with vegetarian diet? (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

salad days

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'innocent years' is the definition.
The definition suggests a plural noun which matches the answer.

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for salad days that I've seen before include "Time for a vegetarian diet" , "Period of youth and inexperience - on lettuce diet?" , "Carefree youth" , "times when she was young" , "Period of youth and inexperience - ate lettuce dishes?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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