National Watermelon Day

When you think of summertime, what fruit comes to mind? For me, it’s watermelon! Watermelon is a sweet, refreshing fruit made up of 92% water, making it perfect for summertime. Because watermelon coincides so well with summertime it makes sense that National Watermelon Day is this Wednesday, August 3^rd!

According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPD), watermelon is the most-consumed melon, by weight, in the United States, followed by cantaloupe and honeydew. For only 80 calories per serving and more than 300 varieties, it makes sense that it’s the most consumed melon, and why it’s hard not to love this fruit.

Packs a Punch

Watermelon can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner or as a snack. Watermelon is a good source of potassium, which is necessary for water balance inside every cell and helps with muscle cramps. It is rich in:

Vitamin A, which helps keeps eyes and skin healthy.
Vitamin B6, which helps the immune system function properly and aids in brain development during pregnancy and infancy.
Vitamin C, which helps boost immunity.

Antioxidant Boost

Watermelon is an excellent source of lycopene. Lycopene is a type of carotenoid, an antioxidant that is known for its potential role in reducing your risk of heart disease, various cancers and protection to your skin from harmful UV rays.

Lycopene gives watermelon, as well as tomatoes and pink grapefruit, their red color.
Research has shown lycopene may lower triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, thereby lowering your cardiovascular disease risk.

Enjoying Watermelon

The most common way to eat watermelon is to cut it into slices. But, did you know there are many others ways to enjoy this refreshing fruit?

Grill the watermelon until it is slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
Add to your favorite salad for a sweet twist.
Blend chunks of watermelon to make your own watermelon juice.
Mix with pineapple to make a delicious salsa.
Serve as a side to sea bass, sweet shrimp or scallops.
Cut watermelon into cubes, insert ice pop sticks and stick in the freezer. Viola, you have homemade watermelon pops!

Since there are more than 300 varieties of watermelon, you probably didn’t know there are also yellow and orange varieties. These two varieties tend to be sweeter than red-fleshed watermelon and can add an interesting touch to your traditional fruit bowl.

Picking Out the Perfect Watermelon

When you’re picking out a watermelon at the grocery store, it is important to make sure you’re picking the right one. The watermelon should be oval and symmetrical. It is also important to look for a creamy, yellow spot on the underside of the melon. This spot indicates good sun exposure and ensures a sweet, ripened fruit. Watermelon is in peak season now until September, so be sure to grab it during your next trip to the grocery store!

Your Turn to Take Action: Try a different watermelon recipe on Wednesday. Let me know what you try in the comment section below.