Watermelon Day
August 3 is National Watermelon Day. How will you celebrate? Whether you simply slice and eat some fresh watermelon or throw an all-day watermelon bonanza, do something to give this little holiday a nod. After all, watermelon is one tasty and versatile fruit. Check out our fun watermelon facts, then make your own watermelon freezies with the recipe at the bottom of this post...
Fun Facts about Watermelon:
- This tasty fruit is a great source of vitamins C and A. It also contains tons of lycopene.
- Need to hydrate? Grab some watermelon -- it's 92% water!
- Americans eat an average of 17 pounds of watermelon every year.
- Watermelon is related to cucumbers, squash, and pumpkin -- they're all part of the cucurbitaceae family!
- Not sure how to pick out a great watermelon? Look for fruit that has a firm, smooth rind, a yellow underside, and which is heavy for its size.
- Both the watermelon seeds and rind are also edible.
Watermelon Freezies
- 1 cup seedless watermelon chunks
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup water
- 6 6-ounce paper cups
- 6 popsicle sticks or plastic spoons
Mix watermelon, orange juice, and water in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into paper cups and place in freezer. When pops are partially frozen, insert sticks or small plastic spoons into the center of each cup (these will be your handles). Continue freezing until mixture is fully hardened. When it is time to serve your freezies, dip the cups into warm water and pull the popsicles from their wrappers.Chef's Tip: Warm water makes it easier to remove the cups from the frozen mixture, leaving you with a delicious summer treat on a stick! So what are you waiting for? Cool off with a watermelon freezie today!Or use our watermelon cake recipes:
For more great resources and fun facts, visit our Nutrition Education Store! It's filled with engaging presentations, posters, handouts, games, books, and more!
