When drifting through the clinical supermarket chains- the Sainsburys and Waitroses of this world- I will inevitably wander over to the fresh fruit and vegetable section, as every savvy shopper is apt to do. I pass the loose broccolis and carrots, the red and regular onions, on past the hummus and salad garnishes, and then to the salad bags themselves. These plastic packaged lettuces, the baby, French continental and herb leaves, looking sad and limp and not as nature intended. I dread to think what goes into these little packages, preserving chemicals no doubt, perhaps the odd pesticide, maybe a colour enhancing product. Maybe not, maybe this is just the cynical naturist in me. Still even without any of these 'extras', the salad bag is still one of the most overpriced items you can get, in terms of value for money at any rate. Firstly, there's not much in a salad bag, two, possibly three servings at most. Secondly, as soon as you prize one open they begin to develop a slimy residue within 24 hours. It's as if they're a kind of sub-species, un-equipped to handle anything as unforgiving as actual air. The salad bag is embarrassment to its healthy, plump, naturally grown and more durable cousin lettuces. It should be phased out.
Having said that, you may not take to the idea of plucking your own fresh vegetables from the earth, or perhaps there isn't a grocer close to hand. Luckily, there's another solution, the Aerogarden. An Aerogarden may not be as close to nature as the sprouting seeds in a stretch of soil, but the result is as fresh and natural as you can get. You can plant a variety of seeds from chillies to cherry tomatoes, herbs and edible flowers, and rest assured that your plant babies will be nourished and protected better than they could hope to be if left to combat the elements. You will reap the rewards when you see your first plant grow and prosper. Now that's a damn sight better than a salad bag.