Alternatives to a salad...

[99problems]

As part of my diet it is said that I need a leafy green salad with chicken or turkey breast and a small slice of cheese.. now I can handle the chicken and cheese but I really really really hate leaves, but apparently leafy green salads contain alot of valuble fibres I will need to stop food just festering in my stomach, anyone know any alternatives to a leafy green salad that have similar nutrition values??

[MrsRiley]

I prefer steamed spinach...sames leaves just cook um..plus it eliminates alotta fat since you then don't need salad dressing.

[grommit]

Steaming will actually release many of the nutrients that we can not get from raw spinache or carrots, etc. because the steaming will break open the cells and allow much greater access to the vitamin A, etc. (absorption of carotenes from raw carrots is like 3%, but closer to 90% from lightly cooked)

Cooking will however destroy the ALA omega3 oils in all green leafy veggies, and even flax. This is the one nutrient I know of that always massively decreases with the least bit of cooking, and is a nutrient that we americans at least get far too little of.

[cursor]

There are a ton (actually, it'd take a heap o' greens to make 'a ton') lettuce varieties. Consider varying your leafy greens to keep things interesting:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...-0-671,00.html

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by grommit

Cooking will however destroy the ALA omega3 oils in all green leafy veggies, and even flax. This is the one nutrient I know of that always massively decreases with the least bit of cooking, and is a nutrient that we americans at least get far too little of.

It's a bit of an acquired taste, but a light dressing of flaxseed oil and lemon juice or balsamic vinegar on your steamed veggies can add back the omega 3 nutrients and them some. Try an olive oil and flaxseed oil blend if you are not keen on the taste from the start.