Dispelling the myth of the evil Iceberg lettuce!

tanniew78
tanniew78 Posts: 602 Member
edited September 25 in Food and Nutrition
Some people are under the impression that this is a nutritionally barren vegetable. I thought I would kick this myth to the curb. For those that like to have fact based info rather than sensationalist news... Here is your nutrition facts...

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2476/2

No more woody, tough, and sometimes bitter lettuces for me. Ill stick to my iceberg...

Although Im sure there are better lettuces, its fine to eat. Even if most of the cals come from sugar, they are natural sugars. It provides many nutrients as well... Not too bad a trade off.

Replies

  • hollyshobbies
    hollyshobbies Posts: 26
    thanks for this post. i was just looking at my grocery store last night for something i can add to my salads since romaine lettuce is usually around $3-$3.50 a head. iceburg is only a buck!
  • calliope_music
    calliope_music Posts: 1,242 Member
    i love to mix iceberg into salads. it's not my favorite lettuce, but it has the crunch that i crave!
  • reese66
    reese66 Posts: 2,920 Member
    i love to mix iceberg into salads. it's not my favorite lettuce, but it has the crunch that i crave!

    I'm with you, I love the crunch. Red leaf and Boston rib lettuce are my faves.
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    Some people are under the impression that this is a nutritionally barren vegetable. I thought I would kick this myth to the curb. For those that like to have fact based info rather than sensationalist news... Here is your nutrition facts...

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2476/2

    No more woody, tough, and sometimes bitter lettuces for me. Ill stick to my iceberg...

    Although Im sure there are better lettuces, its fine to eat. Even if most of the cals come from sugar, they are natural sugars. It provides many nutrients as well... Not too bad a trade off.

    I think you're missing the point. No one said to never eat iceberg lettuce, and for people who haven't intentionally eaten a vegetable in years, it's a great place to start.

    The point is that nearly every other kind of salad green contains far more nutrients for similar calories. Take a look at spinach, for one example: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2626/2

    Any greens are better than no greens however.
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    Definitely got a bad rap, and is an excellent source of a couple of macronutrients. But I do love my spring mix!
  • perrytyra
    perrytyra Posts: 357 Member
    I knew it wasn't bad for me me, but I know it doesn't have many vitamins. It is a good think for people who hate any other kind of lettuce, becuase it can fill you up, and it has all that water in it.

    I stopped buying it because my family isn't all that big on veggies, and if I can get a salad in them(or me) I want it to be full of vitamins and fiber.

    I just checked that site for romaine lettuce, and the fiber content was 0. Wow. It does have less calories. Guess I will have to start thowing raw spinach into my salads to up the vitamins.
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    Some people are under the impression that this is a nutritionally barren vegetable. I thought I would kick this myth to the curb. For those that like to have fact based info rather than sensationalist news... Here is your nutrition facts...

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2476/2

    No more woody, tough, and sometimes bitter lettuces for me. Ill stick to my iceberg...

    Although Im sure there are better lettuces, its fine to eat. Even if most of the cals come from sugar, they are natural sugars. It provides many nutrients as well... Not too bad a trade off.

    I think you're missing the point. No one said to never eat iceberg lettuce, and for people who haven't intentionally eaten a vegetable in years, it's a great place to start.

    The point is that nearly every other kind of salad green contains far more nutrients for similar calories. Take a look at spinach, for one example: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2626/2

    Any greens are better than no greens however.

    Well, it depends, in the case of alha-carotene, iceberg is much better than spinach or romaine.

    From Men's Health:

    Iceberg Lettuce

    Conventional wisdom suggests this salad staple is nutritionally bankrupt. But as it turns out, half a head of iceberg lettuce has significantly more alpha-carotene, a powerful disease-fighting antioxidant, than either romaine lettuce or spinach.

    IMO - it's really all about what you like. If you like iceberg, go for it. I personally prefer spring mix and spinach, but there is nothing wrong with mixing it up!!
  • GypsyRoaddog
    GypsyRoaddog Posts: 80 Member
    Many vitamins/minerals, but the way I read it, very very small % of daily requirements. I will research other types of lettuce & respond again.

    gyps
  • jenX1174
    jenX1174 Posts: 154
    I don't eat iceberg because of the taste. My preference so far is using baby spinach in my salad. It's a challenge for me to get my veggies in every day, so I'd rather eat veggies packed with nutrients.
  • GypsyRoaddog
    GypsyRoaddog Posts: 80 Member
    I revisited the site & searched Mixed Baby Greens -- no joy. A Search Of Boston Bibb Brought these results:

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2474/2

    Greenleaf Lettuce: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2477/2

    I did not line them up side-by-side but they seem to fare better in value. I did not check Spinach, but just follow the orig link:

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2476/2

    The Search function is at the upper right.

    gyps
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    I currently have raw spinach leaves and shredded Iceberg in my fridge :)
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    Some people are under the impression that this is a nutritionally barren vegetable. I thought I would kick this myth to the curb. For those that like to have fact based info rather than sensationalist news... Here is your nutrition facts...

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2476/2

    No more woody, tough, and sometimes bitter lettuces for me. Ill stick to my iceberg...

    Although Im sure there are better lettuces, its fine to eat. Even if most of the cals come from sugar, they are natural sugars. It provides many nutrients as well... Not too bad a trade off.

    I think you're missing the point. No one said to never eat iceberg lettuce, and for people who haven't intentionally eaten a vegetable in years, it's a great place to start.

    The point is that nearly every other kind of salad green contains far more nutrients for similar calories. Take a look at spinach, for one example: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2626/2

    Any greens are better than no greens however.

    Well, it depends, in the case of alha-carotene, iceberg is much better than spinach or romaine.

    From Men's Health:

    Iceberg Lettuce

    Conventional wisdom suggests this salad staple is nutritionally bankrupt. But as it turns out, half a head of iceberg lettuce has significantly more alpha-carotene, a powerful disease-fighting antioxidant, than either romaine lettuce or spinach.

    IMO - it's really all about what you like. If you like iceberg, go for it. I personally prefer spring mix and spinach, but there is nothing wrong with mixing it up!!

    You make a good point about variety. There's no one 'superfood', and you have a better chance of hitting all your micronutrients by changing things up.

    Good reminder!
  • tanniew78
    tanniew78 Posts: 602 Member
    I just get on a bit of a soapbox kick when I see someone posting a discouragement of using iceberg lettuce. For some of us, its all we can afford. And my point and original post was intended NOT to vs it against other lettuces per se, just that its not as big a nutritional no no as I see its being made out as.

    I try to buy the salad mixes myself. As long as it doesnt have arugula in it,... Im good. lol.

    Another pet peeve of mine is those that moan they ate an apple. Vegetation did not make you fat.... Simply put. Its everything you put onto and into the veggies that makes you fat...
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