I don't like the spines either. I normall buy the package of three heads and tear the spines out. Only takes me a few minutes, and it's still cheaper that prebagged. I was 33 before I ate salad on a regular basis. I don't like iceberg, and that's all my mom ever served. Romaine has been a lifesaver, as has baby spinach (I tear the stems off spinach too).

I absolutely love romaine lettuce - I will use it in anything that calls for some kind of lettuce and love to mix it with baby spinach and other greens and few other choice veggies in a wrap with a small amount of caesar dressing.

LLV - Thank you so much for the link - I had grown up hearing that iceberg was worthless etc etc.... but I have always liked it.... I am considering emailing the link to a few people.......

Nutritional and "diet" information so often goes through a game of "telephone," to the point that sometimes the myth in the guise of "fact" is so often repeated that it's accepted as "well-known" by even the profesionals who should know better (water myths come to mind).