Let Us Contemplate Something About Lettuce opus 948
| 10 September 2026 1550 Hours | | Diet, Biology, Conservation, Current Events, Farming, Food, Medical, Science |
Most lettuce we eat is composed of 95% water.
Why do we expend so much effort and expense
On a product that offers so little return to the consumer?
Lettuce has caused many health epidemics in our country.
It requires significant irrigation from critical water sources.
It also requires immediate refrigeration right from the field,
Including refrigerated transport for long distances.
Of course it demands significant labor just to start the process.
We consume many good varieties of salads,
But how many times have you witnessed someone
Who just simply leaves those three or four leaves,
Which were added as an attractive base for other edibles?
A dietician at a US university, because of these factors,
Is proposing that we simply cease consuming lettuce.
But what could we substitute for this ubiquitous vegetable?
Items such as broccoli or cabbage would do just fine,
And they are composed of only a full 90% water content!
At least that doubles the actual 'vegetable amount'!
Even beans, served attractively, would be an excellent substitute.
With ever-greater Climate Crisis-water challenges,
This may be a very good alternative to contemplate.
Again, as a final thought: How much lettuce is left unused,
To simply be dumped in the garbage, too fragile to be properly recycled?