The soaring price of iceberg lettuce has made salad staples an absolute must-have, and one smart mom shared her handy tip for keeping vegetables fresh longer.
She recommends removing all plastic wrap and instead wrapping the lettuce in aluminum foil and then placing it in the refrigerator drawer to keep it fresh for weeks.
Moisture is trapped in the foil so condensation is sucked back into the lettuce.
But as prices for an iceberg lettuce soar above $10 a head due to inflation and flood damage to Australia’s food-grade farmlands, an Australian dietitian has shared a number of other salad fillers you can try to eat.
Susie Burrell, who holds two honors in nutrition, dietetics and psychology, said darker, more colorful vegetables should be prioritized when budgets are tight.
Susie Burrell, who holds two honors in nutrition, dietetics and psychology, said darker, more colorful vegetables should be prioritized when budgets are tight.
Speaking to FEMAIL, she explained that frozen spinach and kale are much cheaper and more nutritious than plain lettuce.
They can usually be bought for under $3 per pound and are more versatile because they “can be used in everything from smoothies to bolognese,” she explained.
“When budgets are this tight, you don’t have to feel like you have to spend $12 on a salad to feed yourself,” she said.
“Iceberg lettuce is so low in calories because it’s mostly water and contains some nutrients, but you just don’t get your money’s worth at these high prices.”
Pictured is a supermarket on the outskirts of Brisbane that sold a single iceberg lettuce for $12.99 last month.
The rise in prices got the year off to a wet start with unprecedented rains and floods devastating crops in NSW and Queensland.
Some Queensland lettuce growers have lost their third crop in a row and are in danger of losing their jobs due to the unusual rain.
The leading horticultural group has warned that growers in the southeastern state will need millions to survive a series of natural disasters.
Fast food chains have also had to cut down on their lettuce consumption, while KFC and Subway warn their customers to expect a mix of cabbage in their burgers.
Susie recommends buying inexpensive, nutrient-rich vegetables like carrots, spinach, and kale for “a fraction of the price.”
And she suggests using more veggie roasts while keeping salad prices high.
“If you still want a salad for a sandwich, carrots and tomatoes are better options.”
We recommend purchasing canned and frozen vegetables whenever possible to save money.
You can buy canned tomatoes and beets, frozen spinach, kale, and cauliflower, and you can buy carrots for $1 per bag.
“After that, if you have the extra cash for fresh veggies, it’s best to buy something really colorful rather than lettuce or cucumber, which is usually water, to get the most out of it.”
Pictured is a supermarket on the outskirts of Brisbane that sold a single iceberg lettuce for $12.99 last month.
“Top five” iceberg substitutes include rocket, cos, and chard, as well as spinach and kale.
“If you have fussy kids, you can fry kale, carrots, or zucchini,” she suggested. “Or put them in a smoothie.”
Susie also recommends trying cauliflower in smoothies, even if prices for that vegetable have soared.
“If you want to get more vegetables in your diet, try some flowers,” she said.
Other expensive produce like tomatoes and beets can be replaced with canned varieties to save money, Susie said.
His recommendation comes after the sharp rise in fruit and vegetable prices across the country.
Susie with Leanne Ward, left. Dietitians host The Nutrition Couch podcast
A video showing two women stacking baskets of “free” loose lettuce leaves has divided the internet, with some commenters outraged by the couple while others defended their actions.
TikTok user James Longstaff posted the video and captioned the now-viral footage, “literally pulling chunks of greenery from every iceberg lettuce…”
The video showed women in what appeared to be a Coles branch in Western Australia.
The ladies’ wagon was already filled with lettuce leaves when the video started.
One woman pulled the outer leaves of the heads of lettuce and put them in the car, while another placed them in plastic bags.
He was later seen pulling out another bag to use as a passerby stared at it, wondering what was going on.
Recently, the exorbitant price of lettuce has surprised some commentators who criticize women for “ignoring anyone”.
For a second, he pointed out that the fault wasn’t in the shop, it was in everyone who wanted lettuce.
“Lettuce is sold by ‘each one’, not by weight, so they’re basically stealing from anyone who buys lettuce from them.”
Source: Daily Mail
