If you're asking if one is cheaper, I'd gamble that most of the time the whole would be cheaper, but like anything you need to compare. I have to admit I've become lazy with the prepared items for saving time plus I don't throw nearly as much away nnow so the cost difference is at least partially offset. You might use it quickly enough though that it wouldn't be an issue.

I prefer the packages of 3 romaine hearts. I find that in most cases the whole romaine that is unpackaged in the produce department has 6 to 8 outside leaves that are damaged or tough or wilted to the point that they won't revive. After discarding those leaves, any savings I think, is lost. Really, I don't pay any attention to cost of either. I simply prefer the crunch of the inner leaves that the hearts provide.

I used to buy hearts but then I realized I kind of like the leafier part too and, like you, I noticed the hearts were shrinking almost to nothing but white middles. What' sup with that - thought it was just my grocer.

I've actually recently been switching over to more healthier greens. This week it's baby kales.

I'm with Carla. I used to buy the hearts, but they're so pale! Darker greens are healthier for us. In addition to whole romaine, I like leaf lettuces--red and green--and boxes of spring greens from Sam's. Oh, and Boston lettuce occasionally. My cat Peachy and I love kale--mine cooked and hers raw.

I buy the 3pk.Romaine hearts from Aldis for $.99. They also have a 4pk.of gourmet red and green lettuces for $1.75(?) that I really like. They seem to keep in the crisper for a long time too.

A lot of what you are seeing depends on the crop and the weather conditions. So you'll see smaller tighter heads in cooler weather and lots more green leafy heads in warmer weather. Don't know how long it takes to get the lettuce to your market, but it's highly perishable, so the heads will look different all the time. And if the heads are too bushy and the outer leaves get damaged, then the outer leaves are trimmed for the bags of "hearts".

The new crop here in the Salinas Valley is just going in, and the workers are starting to return from Arizona and the Imperial Valley.

I should have added to my post above that another reason I buy the hearts is that the granddog loves the crunchy inner leaves of romaine best. She can be in the fartherest reaches of the house, but when I start tearing the romaine leaves for the evening's salad, she comes begging. Turns her nose up at the outer leaves and all other types of greens.

The deeper green outer leaves are more nutritious. I buy the whole head.

Our produce dept must peel off any bad leaves before we ever see it, I guess, because rarely do I have to throw any leaves away. Sometimes the very top edge of one or two are darkened but I just pinch that bit off. So I generally buy the whole head, and if the romaine isn't great, I'll get the leafy green or red lettuce instead. Rarely do I get the hearts or packaged greens. I like to buy spinach for salads and sandwiches, too. And I use that on pizza.

I'd rather have the whole romaine if I can get them. I try to eat all the darker veggies I can. I try to pick through them and get the ones with the nicer outer leaves, but if I have to trim some, that's okay, too.

I love, love, love salads.