Ink Pen by Phil Dunlap for November 05, 2023

In the early 20th century a scientist working to determine the nutritional value of different foods put the decimal for iron content in spinach in the wrong place – making it appear spinach had an iron content 10x of reality and creating the myth of spinach as a super food that was picked up in Thimble Theater (strip which premiered Popeye). At least that is how the urban legend goes.

If you grew up in the 30s, as my mom did, you believed it absolutely and wouldn’t listen when your kids told you, “Mom, we hate this stuff.” She figured anything tasting that bad must be good for us.