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The Useless Iceberg

Anyone skip the iceberg lettuce at the salad bar, dismissing it as useless for your health? You’re not alone in this thought. For years, the iceberg lettuce has gotten this bad rep for being low in nutrition, and like many other foods, has been overshadowed by frequently rising plant superstars: spinach, kale, pomegranate, chia, quinoa… I like to call them plant celebrities. Meanwhile, others (like the humble iceberg lettuce) are left misunderstood for being of lesser importance in nutrition. Little did they know the underrated value of the iceberg lettuce…

During one of my classes last quarter, my teacher talked about the mineral choline: an essential precursor for cell structure integrity, signaling, neurotransmitters, energy, etc.  Needless to say, it’s important for you. As she went down the list of foods that are high in choline, she stopped at iceberg lettuce and said, “You know that useless iceberg lettuce? It’s high in choline!”

Who would have thought?! Man’s discoveries continue to confirm that “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…” (Genesis 1:31). Not, “everything…except iceberg lettuce.” Okay, I won’t deny that it’s true: some plant foods are more packed with nutrition than others, but there’s no doubt that all serve a good purpose, and the lesser ought not to be excluded. Even the “superstar” vegetables need the nutrients from the more humble foods in order to work synergistically. (Therefore, eat a wholesome diet with a variety of plant foods. There’s my two-cent dietetic pitch.=) )

Now, if we were to go about our daily lives believing that iceberg lettuce has no value, would that change the fact that iceberg lettuce is high in choline? No! The truth is the truth. Regardless of whether we believe it or not, it will remain high in choline.

I can’t help but relate this to us. Regardless of what people may think of us, and though rumors spread about your lack of value, Jesus opens the invitation of truth to us: if we surrender our lives to Him, no matter how dirty, He will make us clean and anew. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. When we give our lives to Jesus and understand how much we mean to Him, the rumors and taunts of our worthlessness become lies, because the current truth is that He loves us with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) And this Love gives us a second chance.

God has given us this privilege of being identified with Him and to play our part in the great work that He is doing. If you’re an iceberg lettuce, don’t try to be a spinach; own that personalized relationship with Jesus. No one else can make you understand your personal worth in Jesus Christ but Jesus Christ alone.

We may be tempted to compare our worth with each other, but God has always emphasized that personal relationship and work that He has for us. When Peter asked about John’s purpose in life, Jesus replied “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” (John 21:22). Yes, you (and I) follow Him!

Tatiana Kim is a graduate student at Loma Linda University, getting a MS in Nutrition and Dietetics; and is originally from New Jersey.


Comments

Thank you Tatiana! I never knew that iceberg lettuce could be so nutritious. I hope that everything is going well for you at Loma.

Kara (#1) – September 13, 2014

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