Thursday, October 3, 2013

My Love Affair with Lettuce


It's no secret among my friends and family know how I feel about lettuce!  I can eat it, in fact I love a good salad - but, touching it has been an issue since High School.
Yes. Touching it!
For almost as long as I can remember touching lettuce - with my hands - has made me gag. 
Literally.
Yes. It's weird.
Touching it. Cleaning it. Cutting it. 
All a major problem.
I was so happy when bagged, washed lettuce came on the scene.  I could have salads at home with a minimum of interaction with my hands.
I got used to people looking at me sideways when I couldn't touch the leaves - and never found any explanation (until recently).  Romaine and Iceberg were at the top of my list of Please-don't-make-me-touch-them.
Happy with my dark leafy greens in the bag I ate salads at home all the time.

Then, along came my gluten-free life, (now pretty much grain free)... and I was out of sandwich and bun options.
Until I happened upon a burger wrapped in iceberg lettuce.
Fantastic!  
Then I discovered the beauty of the lettuce wraps at PF Changs. And, romaine lettuce as a wrap with tuna salad, chicken salad, scrambled eggs... the possibilities are endless!  
But, obviously for these purposes the lettuce had to be touched to be eaten. And I was touching them - without triggering the reaction I had gotten for decades! 
Decades!

Recently an occupational therapist we know explained that my reaction to touching lettuce sounded like a sensory issue.  
A sensory issue that has faded the longer I am gluten-free.
So bring on the romaine!! And let the salad games begin!

Check out this yummy recipe I found for grilled romaine at The Daily Apple... might have to make this tonight!



2 comments:

Unknown said...

I love this style of drawing, it reminds me of artwork in a favourite children's book series by Colin and Jacqui Hawkins. Just the right amount of detail but still great fun to see.

erin rogers pickering said...

Thanks Michael for the lovely compliment! :)