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Friday, August 19, 2011

Myth: Iceberg lettuce is just as healthy as other greens.

Answer: Busted!

Unfortunately, iceberg lettuce is not a nutritional powerhouse of any kind. It is about 95% water and, compared to other leafy greens, it's nutrient make-up is extremely low.

Try darker leafy greens such as romaine or spinach for your salad. These have more nutrients than light-colored iceberg lettuce. They are also higher in B vitamins, lutein (for vision health), folate, vitamins A and K, and fiber.

mix of spinach and other nutritious, dark leafy greensIf you can’t part with iceberg, mix other greens into your salad and add other veggies to bump up the nutrient content of your salad. A healthy salad can be a great way to help you make half your plate fruits and vegetables.

Additional nutrition and health information can be found at MissouriFamilies.org.



Contributor: Karen Sherbondy, MEd, RD, LD, Extension Associate, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri Extension, 816-655-6227

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