The greener the better? Is that the answer?
I like to eat salad and we all know that a salad is an excellent way to get the veggies in! I grew up eating iceberg lettuce and I like the crunch that comes with iceberg lettuce. For a good while now, I have been eating much more romaine lettuce, sometimes with spinach and sometimes with kale. Darker lettuces like romaine and red leaf are richer in vitamin A, beta-carotene and other nutrients than iceberg. Here is a list of nutrition facts about this lovely lettuce.
- Packed with protein
- Calcium
- Omega – 3s
- Vitamin A – More than a carrot!
- Iron
- B Vitamin rich
- Water!
- Vitamin K
- Mineral rich
I like to buy romaine hearts so I can have that crisp, sweet taste while getting the health benefits in salads, sandwiches and wraps. I wash and dry the lettuce and lay on paper towels before storing in a plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper for up to one week. I actually keep a paper towel in the bag with the lettuce. To add extra crispness, dunk the romaine leaves in ice water for a few minutes just before serving.
Also, you can add an entire head of lettuce to a fruit smoothie and never even taste it!