Americans have a complex but undeniable love for leafy greens. While these nutrient powerhouses offer a delicious way to add variety and flavor to meals, from salads to hearty dishes, consistently incorporating them can be challenging.
To better understand these preferences, we analyzed a YouGov survey conducted in March 2024. This list explores the leafy greens Americans enjoy, taking into account both taste preference and nutritional value.
Iceberg Lettuce
While not the healthiest option, iceberg lettuce reigns supreme in popularity. At 18%, it’s the clear favorite for taste, and 25% of Americans choose it as their go-to salad base. However, the love affair stops there. Iceberg lettuce takes the title for the least nutritious green on the list, with 38% of Americans acknowledging its lack of vitamins and minerals.
Spinach
Spinach follows closely behind iceberg lettuce in terms of taste preference, with 15% of Americans loving its flavor. But unlike icebergs, spinach boasts a strong reputation for health benefits. A significant 33% of Americans crown spinach as the most nutritious leafy green, making it a clear winner in the taste-nutrition balance.
But spinach isn’t just famous for being a favorite. It’s a great source of iron, a mineral vital for making hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout your body. One cup of raw spinach offers 0.813 mg of the daily recommended value of iron, but here’s a secret – cook that spinach and watch the iron content soar.
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce secures the third spot for taste preference, with 13% of Americans enjoying its flavor. A single cup of shredded romaine lettuce boasts 40% of your daily recommended vitamin K, crucial for blood clotting and strong bones. It also provides 20% of the daily value for vitamin A, which is important for a healthy immune system, good vision, and reproductive health.
Spring Mix
Spring mix offers a convenient and flavorful salad option, appealing to 10% of Americans for its taste. Like romaine, it falls short in perceived nutritional value, with only 4% considering it the most nutrient-dense green.
Spring mix is a great way to add variety and taste to your plate. This convenient leafy green option packs a powerful punch of antioxidants thanks to its vitamin A and C content. These antioxidants help shield your body from free radical damage, which can contribute to cardiovascular issues over time.
Cabbage
Cabbage is a versatile and affordable green, enjoyed by many for its various applications. While not topping the taste charts (only 8% of Americans favor its flavor), it holds its own in the nutrition department. Notably, it’s a champion of vitamin C, with a single cup of shredded cabbage offering an impressive 36% of the daily value.
Collard Greens
Collard greens are a beloved Southern staple, known for their hearty flavor and dark green leaves. While not a top contender for taste (5% of Americans favor them), they are recognized for their nutritional value. Collard greens pack a punch with calcium, vitamin C, and folate, earning them the title of “most nutritious” by 5% of Americans.
Arugula
Arugula’s peppery bite adds a welcome contrast to various dishes. 4% of Americans favor it for its taste. However, its perceived nutritional value is lower. Arugula doesn’t rank highly for vitamins and minerals, with only 1% considering it the most nutrient-dense green.
Arugula is a fantastic way to boost the nutritional value of your favorite slice. One cup of cooked arugula packs a surprising amount of vitamin K, offering 36% of the daily value in just one cup. While you can find arugula year-round, its flavor truly shines during the cooler months of early spring and fall.
Mustard Greens
Mustard greens add a spicy kick to dishes, living up to their name. They are enjoyed for their flavor by 3% of Americans. Like arugula, mustard greens don’t hold the top spot for perceived nutrition.
Despite the dislike, mustard greens boast a significant nutritional profile. They share the bounty of vitamins A and C commonly found in leafy greens but also provide a welcome sprinkle of essential minerals – magnesium and potassium.
Kale
Despite its recent superfood status, kale is a love-it-or-hate-it green. While 17% of Americans consider it the most nutritious, a significant 20% find it to have the worst taste. Kale’s strong flavor and texture make it a divisive choice.
However, kale is highly nutritious. One cup delivers an impressive 68% of your daily vitamin K needs, and it boasts 22% of the daily value of vitamin C, an essential nutrient for immunity.
Watercress
Watercress offers a peppery flavor and is available year-round, but it’s not a common green on American plates. Only 2% of Americans favor its taste.
However, the health benefits of watercress are impressive. One cup packs a whopping 106% of your daily recommended vitamin K. It also offers a good dose of vitamin C, essential for immunity, at 24% of the daily value. But that’s not all. Watercress is a source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which may contribute to eye health.
Chard
Swiss chard, often called the beet’s leafy cousin, boasts vibrant green stalks and leaves. However, only 1% of Americans think it has a good taste. A single cup of cooked Swiss chard provides 477% of your daily recommended vitamin K intake.
Turnip Greens
Turnip greens have a slightly bitter taste and a hearty texture. Don’t let the bitterness deter you, though, as they are loaded with folate and B vitamins essential for DNA synthesis and preventing neural tube defects.