Story highlights NASA astronauts sample lettuce grown on International Space Station

It's the first time food grown in space is officially on the menu

(CNN) A special treat is on the menu for NASA astronauts on the International Space Station on Monday -- lettuce. But this isn't just any lettuce. It's part of a crop of "Outredgeous" red romaine lettuce grown on the space station.

"Fresh food grown in the microgravity environment of space officially is on the menu for the first time for NASA astronauts," NASA said in a statement.

But it's not the first time food was grown on a space station, it made clear.

"For decades, NASA and other agencies have experimented with plants in space, but the results were always sent to earth for examination, rather than eaten," NASA said.

There was no word on whether crew members have been "unofficially" sneaking some space-grown snacks.