If we said to you 'clean eating', what image would spring to mind? We're guessing it might involve a good old salad - the nutritional bastion of health and wellness, right?
Except no. Turns out, salad - and bagged salads in particular - could be a total lie. Other than serving as a carrier for oodles of ranch dressing, croutons and bacon bits, many salad leaves are basically just water, carrying little to no nutritional benefit, according to science writer Tamal Haspel.
In a column in the Washington Post, Tamal outlines his argument for abandoning salad. Firstly, as he points out, popular leaves like lettuce contain about 96% water - and contain laughably low amounts of nutrition.
A serving of lettuce might be presented as "like a bona fide vegetable," but really, "lettuce is a vehicle to transport refrigerated water from farm to table," Haspel says.
Plus, salad leaves are a big source of food waste. In 2012, lettuce accounted for £270 million of avoidable food waste, while leafy salad account for £150m, according to sustainability group Wrap. (And given how often we find a bag of salad leaves mouldering at the bottom of our fridge, we can well believe it.)
Haspel goes on to note "Lots of what passes for salad in restaurants is just the same as the rest of the calorie-dense diabolically palatable food that’s making us fat, but with a few lettuce leaves tossed in."
The upshot? If you want to keep eating salad, throw in some more nutritionally dense leaves like kale and rocket, which also have a lower water content. And remember - there are plenty of ways to eat healthily without just munching on salad.
Pomegrante seeds
Sweet but not too sweet, pomegrante seeds have the added benefit of making your salad look beautifully bejewelled. They're also antioxidant-rich.
Walnuts
With omegas and amino acids, walnuts are nutrient-dense and will add some crunch to salads.
Almonds
Good for the brain and for your cholestrol levels, plain almonds are a long-standing superfood with proven health benefits. They're also rich in good fats.
Eggs
Protein-packed and omega-rich, eggs are a great way to help your muscles can properly repair themselves after exercise, and support healthy hair and nail growth.
Tomatoes
Tomatos are rich in Vitamin C and biotin - the former being a powerful antioxidant and the latter being great for your hair and nails and also contain anti-ageing niacin and Vitamin E.
Avocados
Full of healthy fats and Vitamns K and E, avocados also supply folic acid and heaps of fibre. They're also totally delicious and have a wonderfully versatile creamy texture.