The Real Reason Why Romaine Lettuce Isn't In Chef V Green Drink
Almost every week on my blog, I extol the virtues of green leafy veggies. And more than that, I've built a small business empire delivering organic Green Drinks that contain 7 certified-organic green leafy veggies. Thankfully, romaine isn't one of them. Otherwise, the $&!* would be hitting the fan right now, haha! But years ago, I made the decision not to include romaine in my ingredients for Green Drink, for two primary reasons. First, although romaine has some nutritional value, it's at the low end of the totem pole in comparison to other leafy greens. Chard, one of the 7 leafy greens in Green Drink contains more calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese, selenium, phosphorous and zinc than romaine lettuce.But the biggest reason I'll never add romaine to my Green Drink is it's far more susceptible to E. coli contamination than other leafy greens. A big reason for this is how it's grown. Romaine is mostly grown in Arizona and California, where irrigation water used on romaine fields can become tainted with bacteria from cows. But it's not like romaine is the only green leafy crop grown in California. Spinach and kale are as well, the latter of which is also in Green Drink. However, kale leaves are tougher and heartier and more resilient against E. Coli.
Healthy Alternatives to Romaine
If you love Caesar salads and substituting romaine for another lettuce is like a carnivore's worst nightmare of having to eat pea-protein burgers instead of beef, just be patient. In time, the recall will be over. In the meantime, I suggest skipping romaine lettuce altogether, even long after the recall is officially removed. That's because there are much healthier greens to eat. And before I list a few of them, let me just say that washing romaine lettuce in water will not get rid of the E. Coli bacteria. (I've read that washing it can actually make it worse.) Kale, collard greens, chard, dandelion greens, and parsley are all featured in my Green Drink. The easiest way to get the benefits of these super greens without having to shop, chop and clean up is to drink 16 0z. of Green Drink a day. If you want to be super healthy, you can start your day off by drinking my Green Drink and then for lunch and/or dinner, have a salad with some of these leafy greens.5 Reasons Not To Buy Bagged Produce
Try to buy all your leafy greens from a local farmer's market. Although very convenient and inexpensive, especially from markets like Trader Joe's ($1.99 for a bag of organic spinach), here are a few reasons why you should never buy bagged greens:- It doesn't taste as good as fresh (and it might be several days old by the time you purchase it)
- Not as nutrient rich if it's bagged (because it's older)
- Bagged produce is water-intensive (triple washed is not environmentally friendly; especially if it's grown in dry California)
- More likely to have harmful bacteria
- Plastic is not environmentally friendly
CHEF V’S SENSATIONAL SALAD #1 (With No Romaine) SUPER FOOD POWER SALAD
Chef V’s Tip:
One thing I like to do with kale is to squeeze fresh lemon juice on it and let it sit a few minutes. The acid in the juice helps to soften and wilt the greens, making them a little tastier.
Ingredients:
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 4 cups chopped green kale or baby kale
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- ½ cup red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- Raw pine nuts, or use your fav!
Method:
Squeeze the lemon juice onto the chopped kale and let it sit a few minutes. Then mash the avocado into the greens. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds, kidney beans, and your favorite nuts, and serve.
SENSATIONAL SALAD RECIPE #2 (without Romaine):
CHEF V’S ANTIOXIDANT LOVE SALAD
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon cold-pressed olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 large red chard leaf, chopped
- 1 cup chopped red leaf lettuce
- 1 small raw beet, grated
- ½ cup raspberries
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
- ¼ cup raw walnuts, chopped
Method:
In a bowl, toss the olive oil and vinegar with the greens. Plate and top with beets, raspberries, pomegranate seeds, and chopped walnuts.
Pomegranate seeds are so yummy. They are sweet and tart and add a delicious crunch to any dish. They have lots of fiber and Vitamins C and K. Sprinkle them on your favorite salads and soups, or toss them into your next smoothie.
If you like these two salad recipes, there's lots more of them in my cookbook, Making Cleansing Easier. Customers of my 21 day detox, receive a free PDF download of the book.