You Don't Win Friends with Salad Quiz

Answer: Spinach is known to lead to kidney stones in some people.

Spinach is known to lead to kidney stones in some people. Spinach is a very nutritious vegetable, as are most leafy green vegetables. While it is high in iron, there are many vegetables with much higher levels of iron per serving. Wild llamas do not eat spinach, nor is absinthe another name for spinach wine. Now, for what is true, spinach contains a high concentration of oxalic acid, which can cause the formation of stones in both the bladder and kidneys.

It is recommended that when eating spinach try to combine it with a food that is high in Vitamin C. Drinking orange juice with your spinach salad block the negative effects that spinach can have in some people.

Answer: It is illegal to bring celery into Vatican City.

All of these statements are true except for the statement about Vatican City. There is no such law. We now know that celery contains androsterone, which is a pheromone that is also found in the sweat of human men that is believed to be attractive to females.

It might sound ironic, but in the ruins of Pompeii, a recipe for roasting celery in honey and ground pepper was found. Celery is related to hemlock as well as to dill, cilantro, and carrots. Celery seeds are often used in the perfume industry and other pharmaceutical industries as a volatile oil. Celery has many uses, but my favorite is as a nice, healthy snack.

Answer: Radishes are believed to have originated in 8th century Greenland.

All of these statements about radishes are true other than the idea that they originated in 8th century Greenland. Their exact origin is believed to have been in Asia or south-eastern areas of Europe at least 3,000 years ago. They are rich in potassium, folic acid, and vitamin C.

The red-skinned taproot is the most commonly eaten part of this quick-growing plant, but the tops can be prepared and eaten in the same manner as other leaf vegetables. The Mexican festival known as Noche de los Rabanos (Night of the Radishes) is celebrated on December 23rd in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. Radishes are carved into religious characters a spread around town.

Answer: A recipe for cooking asparagus is found in the world's oldest surviving cookbook.

The only one of these statements that is true is that a recipe for asparagus appears in the oldest surviving cookbook, called "De re coquinaria", written by the Roman gourmet Marcus Gavius Apicius in the third century. Asparagus is very high in Vitamins K and B6, protein, iron, and dietary fiber. Asparagus can be cooked in many different ways, pickled for later use, and also eaten raw. Asparagus comes in green and white varieties, is not used for painting, nor for making rope.

Answer: The scientific name of the common tomato actually means "wolf peach".

The scientific name for the common tomato is solanum lycopersicum which translates into English as "wolf peach". Tomatoes are believed to have originated in Peru, not Persia and the word itself is believed to come from the Aztec word "xitomatl" which means "plump thing with a navel". Also, tomatoes are NOT used to replace blood or plasma in a transfusion.

The tomato was introduced into Europe in the 16th century, where it was, at one time, thought to be an aphrodisiac. It is a good idea to wait as long as you can before you pick your tomatoes, as vine-ripened tomatoes contain nearly twice the vitamin C and beta-carotene as those tomatoes which are picked while still green.

Answer: Turnips are often carved into lanterns for Halloween festivals.

Turnips are closely related to rutabagas and the terms are used interchangeably throughout English speaking countries. This root vegetable is high in Vitamin C, K, and A. While they do not contain arsenic, they do contain trace amounts of cyanoglucosides, which release small amounts of cyanide, which may cause a reaction in those who are susceptible. Turnips have been eaten for centuries in many areas of Europe and Asia.

In Scotland and Ireland, turnips are often used as jack-o-lanterns as part of the Halloween celebration. Also, while turnips are good for you, sucking on one will not help your asthma, although it might make those around you start laughing.

Answer: Eating eggplant was believed to make chickens lay more eggs.

Eggplant is a very popular vegetable in southern areas of Asia. It was first brought to the U.S. by Thomas Jefferson, where it was used for table decoration until the 20th century. While it is part of the nightshade family, properly cooked eggplant is perfectly healthy to eat.

But it is this association that probably led to the belief in both the U.S. and Europe, that eating this vegetable would cause insanity. Eggplant is also known as aubergine, melongene, and guinea squash. Eggplant does have the highest concentration of naturally occurring nicotine of any EDIBLE plant. Early varieties of eggplant were smaller and white, resembling eggs, hence the name.

Answer: Onions make excellent shark bait.

For centuries the savory onion has been a popular vegetable in many parts of the world. The ancient Egyptians worshipped them, believing that their round shape and concentric rings symbolized perfection, progression of knowledge and eternity. Onions come in many varieties, with differing sizes and colors.

The onion is easy to grow, easy to store, and easy to transport. They can be eaten raw, cooked or pickled. Onions are very low in calories and contain folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin B6. They also contain certain flavonoids that are believed to have anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-cholesterol properties. Onions have been used as money, medicine, and for making dye.

They are not used as shark bait, raw fish and fish blood works much better for attracting sharks.

Answer: At one time, all carrots were orange.

Until the 17th century, all edible types of carrots were either black, purple or red. The orange carrots usually found at the local salad bar were created by selective breeding in The Netherlands. They were created as a tribute to the House of Orange who were in power at that time.

In 17th century England, carrot leaves were sometimes used as a fashion statement and were worn in the hair. Carrots are high in vitamin A and they can be eaten raw in a salad or cooked in a variety of ways.

Answer: Beets are a good source of the metalloid element boron.

The only one of these statements that is true is that beets are a good source of the metalloid element boron. For centuries, beets have been used as an aphrodisiac, as boron is known to boost the production of human sex hormones. Some other interesting facts about beets/beetroot are:
1. Beets have one of the highest sugar contents of any vegetable but very low
calories.
2. Beetroot juice can be used to measure acidity.
3. Beets have been used for centuries as a hair dye.
4. Eating beets can help ease a hangover.
5. Beets can be used to make a wine that is similar to port. It is not used
to make vodka, which is made with potatoes.