# Why was spinach once considered the ultimate vegetable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 31, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878 "2006-05-31T14:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/21 "2006-06-07T13:53:39Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] What’s _taters_, precious? [/QUOTE] Although I am far from “precious”, I can tell you that taters = potatoes.😉 ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/22 "2006-06-07T15:25:34Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] Although I am far from “precious”, I can tell you that taters = potatoes.😉 [/QUOTE] It was a movie quote, Golllum from Lord of the Rings. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/23 "2006-06-07T15:31:48Z")
Cool. I been whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/24 "2006-06-07T16:48:39Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] Cool. I been whooshed. [/QUOTE] I don’t think of it as whooshed, more of you being another victim of a sense of humor that seems to only be funny to me. Oh well, I like spinach. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/25 "2006-06-07T17:02:20Z")
Actually, I think it was a book quote. I don’t recall that line being in the movie. This is the problem with those movies: Everyone forgets that they were books first. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/26 "2006-06-07T18:07:48Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Actually, I think it was a book quote. I don’t recall that line being in the movie. This is the problem with those movies: Everyone forgets that they were books first. [/QUOTE] I think it was in the movie, and since I re-read the books about once a year I won’t forget, I promise! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/27 "2006-06-08T01:44:18Z")
I don’t have the movies memorized yet, but the following exchange is in _The Two Towers_, book IV, chapter 4 “Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit” > [@Sméagol](#): > > He’s frightened, and he’s very tired, and this hobbit’s not nice, not nice at all. Sméagol won’t grub for roots and carrotses and–taters. What’s taters, precious, eh, what’s taters? > [@Samwise](#): > > Po–ta–toes… ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/28 "2006-06-08T11:22:44Z")
From the movie [Lord of the Rings; The Two Towers](http://www.warofthering.net/quintessential/movieshots_ttt/ttt_b4c04_script.htm) script: > [@](#): > > Sam: What’s to ruin? There’s hardly any meat on ‘em. > > (A faint bird-like sound draws Frodo’s attention) > > What we need is a few good taters. > > Gollum: What’s taters, preciousss? What’s taters, eh? > > Sam: PO-TAY-TOES! Boil ‘em. Mash ‘em. Stick ‘em in a stew. Lovely big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish… > > Sméagol: (He sticks out his tongue in disgust) > > Pbbbttt!! > > Sam: Even you couldn’t say no to that. > > (He takes a sip of the stew) > > Sméagol: Oh yes we could! Spoiling nice fish… ---
**Author:** ![purpler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cab0a1/32.png) [@purpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purpler)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/29 "2006-06-24T04:09:02Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Actually, I think it was a book quote. I don’t recall that line being in the movie. [/QUOTE] [It was.](http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/taters.php) ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878/30 "2006-06-24T04:57:41Z")
[QUOTE=purpler] [It was.](http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/taters.php) [/QUOTE] [Orc Hijacker] Take this thread to Mordor!! [/Orc Hijacker] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable/358878.md?page=1)