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Lettuce sandwich

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A lettuce sandwich is either a regular bread sandwich made with lettuce as its only filling,[1][2] or a breadless sandwich, with a filling optionally inserted between two leaves of lettuce or rolled inside one large lettuce leaf.[3][4] In the later case it is sometimes referred to as a lettuce wrap.[5] It should not to be confused with other sandwiches that use lettuce as one of many ingredients, such as the BLT sandwich or the tomato and lettuce sandwich. The lettuce sandwich has a long history in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It has been used as a metaphor to represent things like mundanity, weakness and poverty. There are allegedly health benefits to eating lettuce sandwiches, such as promoting weight loss and remedying insomnia, and they are sometimes part of a vegetarian diet.

History

The lettuce sandwich was mentioned in print as early as 1894 in The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine.[6] The lettuce sandwich (bread with a lettuce filling) was a common food in the United States and England during the first half of the 20th century;[7][8][9][10][11] preferred by the youth[8][12] and served at fine luncheons.[8][13] Lettuce sandwiches have been served in schools in the United States.[14][15] The lettuce sandwich (bread with lettuce filling) is also an old-fashioned English food.[2] Lettuce sandwiches are still prevalent in the US and elsewhere as of the late 20th century and early 21st century.[16][17][18][19][20]

Preparation

When making a bread and lettuce sandwich, the bread can optionally be buttered[2] or spread with mayonnaise,[10] and then lettuce is placed between the two slices of bread.[1] To prepare a breadless lettuce sandwich, roll any filling inside a large leaf of lettuce or place it between two leaves of lettuce. Two leaves of lettuce with no filling can also be eaten as a lettuce sandwich.[3] Other variations on the lettuce sandwich also exist, such as the pickled lettuce sandwich.[21] The west-coast hamburger chain In-N-Out offers a lettuce sandwich called "the Protein" or "Protein Style" on their hidden menu. It is a hamburger patty wrapped in lettuce instead of the traditional bun.[22]

Metaphors

The lettuce sandwich has also become a cultural metaphor to represent something unattractive, unappealing, weak, or mundane.[23][24] In this sense, the term "limp (or soggy) lettuce sandwich" is often used.[25][26][27] Being on a "lettuce sandwich diet" refers to getting by on the bare minimum with absolutely nothing more than the necessities of life. The lettuce sandwich is sometimes indicative of poverty or hardship,[28] and also represents lack of sufficient nourishment.[29] The lettuce sandwich is considered a humble,[30] tasteless[15] food. It can be used to represent disappointment as in "life was like a lettuce sandwich over the sink".[31]

Health benefits

A lettuce sandwich is a sleep-inducing remedy for insomnia.[32][33] This is due to opiate-like chemicals contained in lettuce that help relax and sedate the body, along with the sleep-inducing effect of the carbohydrates in the bread.[33] Lettuce sandwiches (no bread) are also eaten to promote weight loss.[3] Lettuce sandwiches (bread filled with lettuce) can also be a good food choice for the health-conscious.[1][4][8][12] The lettuce sandwich (bread filled with lettuce)—which contains no meat—is often found in vegetarian diets.[34][35]

In media

A reference to a lettuce sandwich was made in the I Solemnly Swear episode of the Gilmore Girls TV series.[36] Celebrities such as Morris Graves[30] and Mariah Carey[3] have eaten lettuce sandwiches. There have been deaths attributed to eating lettuce sandwiches, due to lettuce contaminated with the E.coli bacteria.[18][19]

References

  1. ^ a b c Lotter, Michelle (22 November 2007). "Kids go on snack attack". North Shore Times, Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  2. ^ a b c Slater, Nigel (10 June 2001). "This month". The Observer. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  3. ^ a b c d McGEE, CELIA (October 15th 2001). "MARIAH'S DIGS GET A 'GLITTER'-Y MAKEOVER TRIBECA TRIPLEX BY BUATTA IS SINGER'S GRAND GETAWAY". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2009-01-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b Brabham, Brandy (Oct 17, 2002). "Prepare Safe Home-packed Lunches". The Times Record. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  5. ^ Keeler, Janet K. (October 22, 2003). "The hip, hot wrap". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  6. ^ "An Errant Wooing". The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine. 1895. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  7. ^ Maxwell, Nellie (Jun 4, 1925). "Mother's Cook Book - Everyday Good Things". Madison Lake Times. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  8. ^ a b c d "Catering to Young Palates Does Adults a Good Turn Too". St. Petersburg Times. Jul 5, 1940. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  9. ^ "Woodcock on Chicago". Time Magazine. Oct. 27, 1930. Retrieved 2009-01-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b "FINDS LONDON FOOD CHEAPER THAN OURS". New York Times. February 23, 1917. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  11. ^ Boyle, Hal (Jun 15, 1948). "Lord Drafts a Good Chef". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  12. ^ a b Rowell, Diana (Oct 14, 1938). "Lunch for Susie and Sammy May Be Both Interesting and Nourishing". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  13. ^ Pyatt, Edith Lincoln (Dec 24, 1912). "Mrs. Ennis Entertains". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  14. ^ "Hot Lunch Menu". Tri-County Tribune. Sep 25, 1969. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  15. ^ a b Coldsmith, Don (September 29, 2008). "End of the garden". Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  16. ^ Schaaf, Miv (Nov 3, 1985). "Food for Thought Whatever Happened to the Plain Bread-and-Butter Sandwich?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  17. ^ "A LETTUCE SANDWICH SURE COULD TURN HEADS". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 18, 1993. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  18. ^ a b "WOMAN IS KILLED BY A LETTUCE SANDWICH". Daily Record. June 21, 2001. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  19. ^ a b "E.coli fears after death". BBC News. 21 June, 2001. Retrieved 2009-01-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Business Profile: If at Furse you don't succeed". The Telegraph. 10 Nov 2001. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  21. ^ Raisfeld, Robin (Feb 5, 2006). "Restaurant Openings & Buzz". New York Media LLC. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  22. ^ Pomfret, John (January 30, 2006). "In Calif., Internal Lawsuits Served Up at Burger Chain". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  23. ^ Ghosh, Padmaparna (Dec 12 2007). "Reporters's Notebook: Protest props beat 'Bali fatigue'". Live Mint Lounge: The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Swan, Norman (24 March 2003). "Diabetes - A personal story, part 3". Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  25. ^ "Rename Mermaid Quay - Tiger Bay is better". WalesOnline.co.uk. 24 July 2006. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  26. ^ "The sushi revolution is here; Don't let the thought of raw food put you off - this is the tastiest and healthiest fish supper you'll ever try". Glasgow, Scotland: Daily Record. May 10, 2000. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  27. ^ Musson, Chris (2007-12-28). "Sunseekers' jet delayed 12 hours". The Evening Times. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  28. ^ Richler, Mordecai (1996). Jacob Two-Two's First Spy Case. Toronto, ON: Penguin Books Canada. ISBN 0-14-034609-0.
  29. ^ "Foodless and Pointless Restaurants Close Shop". St. Petersburg Times. Jun 26, 1945. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  30. ^ a b Fahey, Anna (June 13, 2001). "Portrait of the artist". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  31. ^ Miller, Betty Jean (Mar 29, 1985). "Book Offers an Escape into the Past". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  32. ^ Nevin, Charles (3 January 1999). "Captain Moonlight". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  33. ^ a b Van Straten, Michael (April 25, 2004). "The secrets of sleep". Times Online. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  34. ^ Whitehead, Daniel (May 26th, 2006). "Kicking the meat habit". Retrieved 2009-01-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ Cawein, Elizabeth (3/11/2005). "Another Brick in the Wall: Veggie Tales: Meat hiatus too difficult". Retrieved 2009-01-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Gilmore Girls: I Solemnly Swear". Retrieved 2009-01-24.
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