All About Romaine Lettuce

“Gus took a deep breath, taking in the wondrous scent of fresh herbs, ran her eyes over the stalls of red and yellow tulips and the tables mounded with ramps, asparagus, sorrel, chives, and mushrooms. Farther along she could make out the crisp spring lettuces, the romaine and spinach and what was known as a merlot, with its wonderful ruffled edges and bright green ribs. Gus longed to crunch on a few baby carrots, dreamed of giving them a quick blanch and a dab of butter and parsley. Yum!
She wanted a chance to wander through the crowd, imagining how she'd put together an early spring vegetable soup, and savor a cup of tea as she people-watched the comings and goings of the green market.”
― Kate Jacobs, Comfort Food

Monte Carlo Romaine and Coastal Romaine are both dark green varieties of romaine which are known for being crisp, sweeter, and appealing to a majority of salad eaters. With just two carbohydrates per cup, it is certainly a choice that fits into a well-balanced diet!

Five Fun Facts

• Monte Carlo, one of the four areas in Monaco, from which Monte Carlo Romaine draws its name, is famous for its casino. Monaco, which is between Italy and France, is only second smallest to the Vatican.
• A cup of romaine only has about 8 calories!
• Coastal Star Romaine and Monte Carlo Romaine, being dark green varieties, are more nutrient rich than lighter variants of lettuce.
• Romaine has been grown to be eaten for at least 5,000 years.
• Used in the times of the Romans as a medicine, Augustus Caesar supposedly erected a statue to honor the healing abilities of Romaine lettuce, having personally been seriously ill and healed after its use.

Nutrition Info

Romaine is a good source of:

• Calcium
• Phosphorous
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Vitamins K, A, C
• Folate

Benefits

With high levels of potassium, as well as vitamins A and C which prevent the build-up of plaque in the cholesterol, romaine lettuce is beneficial for cardiovascular health. Also, romaine lettuce contains folate, another necessity for a healthy heart, as folate breaks down the amino acid homocysteine so that the body can remove it, reducing the risk of dementia, heart disease and stroke. Romaine additionally contains antioxidants useful to the human immune system.

Cautions

As with most lettuce, it is advised to rinse lettuce well before consuming to prevent e-coli, which can cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Suggested Recipes

For the Kids and Kids-at-Heart

Download this activity sheet to play greens bingo!

Credits and thanks in addition to recipes and information linked above: Healthline, Edibles South Florida, My Recipes.com, All My Chefs, Medical News Today, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Food Reference

Inclusion of a link does not imply WHF endorsement of all content at that link.