When I head to the grocery store, I can't help it. I'm drawn to those pre-washed bags of salad that offer so much convenience for just little bit more money. You see, most of the time, I'm cooking for one and it seems like more trouble than it's worth to wash the lettuce and spin it dry. OK, go ahead and do your judging but don't try and tell me you haven't been taken in by their charms.

Yes, pre-washed salads are a dieter's best friend. But are they worth the extra cost? Probably not, since experts in the UK are speaking out about them, calling them unsafe and blaming them for a potential rise in food poisoning cases, particularly instances of salmonella and E. coli contamination.

So save your money and do what I do now: wash all your lettuce as soon as you get home from the grocery story, and put it in your fridge. That way, fresh lettuce is readily available, and you can ensure that it's been properly washed.