Every Sunday is like the last, my wife sends me to the store with a list of items for the week. All the basics are there:

• Milk
• eggs
• cereal
• Yogurt
• Celery
• Lettuce

You get the idea. Like a zombie, I mindlessly walk through the store and get each item on the list and take them home. As I unpack I start commenting on each item (I should probably write an article on why I shouldn’t) and why we don’t need them.

I always obsess over celery and lettuce. They do nothing for me and I see them as an addition to my sandwich or meal. Actually, I’d rather substitute spinach or broccoli, because I know those two veggies are healthy (as long as Pop-Eye and my mom aren’t lying).

That got me thinking about researching and writing an article about the nutritional benefits of lettuce and celery. Exciting, devastating stuff, I know.

Well, I was actually quite surprised at the minerals and nutrients in each one. For example, did you know that celery is a great source of riboflavin, calcium, dietary fiber, and contains good amounts of vitamins A, B6, C, and K? Me neither. All of these nutrients and vitamins are key pieces that keep our bodies functioning at a high level.

What about the lettuce? Well let me break that down too. Lettuce contains thiamin, vitamins B6, A, C, K, and (like celery) are very good sources of dietary fiber, folic acid, and manganese.

So now that you know you know the power of these watery and tasteless vegetables, here are some ways to incorporate them into your daily meals.

Celery, when I think about it, looks like the main side with a bowl of chicken wings. Well, that may be very true, but have you ever tried adding celery to soup? Your spinach salad? How about mixing it with canned tuna and spreading it on bread for a sandwich? These are all great ways to get celery into your diet without having to eat it raw.

He wants his children to eat more celery. I will be trying the tried and true Ants on a Log recipe that kids have been devouring for who knows how long. Simply cut each celery stalk into 3 pieces, spread peanut butter in the gap (or almond butter for a healthier option), and add 3-4 raisins (these are your ants) and voila!

How about lettuce? Well, just because you buy it for taco night and then forget about it until it starts stinking up in your fridge, doesn’t mean it can’t be used as an enhancer for any lunch or dinner food. Make a turkey sandwich or another cold cut? Sprinkle some lettuce on top. Have a leftover tomato sitting on the counter, slice it up, and combine with lettuce for a quick salad.

There are many easy and simple ways to make better use of celery and lettuce. While these two veggies may not be the most appealing veggies out there (I’m looking at you, radish…oh devil), they still provide a wealth of vitamins and nutrients and shouldn’t be overlooked when planning meals.