Melons: Added nutrition that the whole family will love!
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So watermelons are wrapping up for being in season at the moment - but I have gotten so many of them in my farm share within the last few weeks and I am absolutely LOVING it!
As a mom, I know we always want the best for our kids and try to ensure they get the right nutrients in their bodies – but sometimes it is hard for the kids and yourself to agree on what is best.
The compromise (at least one of them) – WATERMELONS!
Kids just want something that tastes GREAT! Mom and Dad want something the kids will eat but has some great nutrition in it. You want to make sure that you are giving them the right vitamins, minerals, and fiber that their growing bodies need. Watermelon (and other melons) meet these criteria.
Watermelon is a fun, nutritious way to make sure active kids don't get dehydrated; it's 92 percent water. This is one of the side benefits of serving your children fruit. Most kids I know aren’t the biggest fans of drinking water. This can help make sure they are hydrated throughout the day.
A two-cup serving of watermelon is an excellent source of vitamins A, beta-carotene, B6 and C, and it provides 7 percent of the recommended daily value of potassium, with only 80 calories.
Watermelon is fat-free and contains fiber. Its beautiful red color comes from all-natural lycopene, an antioxidant that can help keep kids' bodies healthy. Lycopene is a type of carotenoid which is a strong antioxidant that is linked to reducing inflammation in the body and many other health benefits.
Watermelon can be eaten at any time of the day – breakfast, lunch or dinner, and it's a wonderful snack.
Watermelon is delicious on its own but can be put into smoothies, made into fun shapes, or put on fruit kabobs. I don’t know about you but there is something better about food on a stick!
A watermelon carving makes a great addition to a kids' party buffet, and the birthday boy or girl can help make it. The salad inside can be as simple as a mixture of blueberries, seedless green grapes and balls of watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon. It's colorful and kids love it. Carving Instructions for Watermelon Fish Slice 1/4 inch off the bottom lengthwise to provide a stable base. With a melon baller, cut half circles over half the top of the watermelon in a rectangular shape, remove and set aside. This piece will be used for the top fin and tail.
Scoop out the flesh. Cut out the tail shape and the melon balled fin-piece from the rectangular piece set aside earlier. Attach the fin and tail with sturdy, round toothpicks. Cut out eyes using a melon baller. Trim around the outside of the eye socket, then place it back in, rind side out. For the mouth, point a paring knife at a downward angle above the stem and slice through 3 inches on either side of the stem, cutting through the rind. Push out the mouth from the inside. For the side fin, cut 3 cuts into the side using the melon baller to make the curves on the back of the fin. Then slice straight cuts to form the top and bottom of the fin. Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. The Wellness Equation - A Division of 1954080 Inc. is a participant in an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products that we organically use and trust. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same, but The Wellness Equation will receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps us spread our message!