08/11/08: What’s for Breakfast? Watermelon
This morning my daughter and I are having watermelon for breakfast. Not only is it a great thirst quencher it also an excellent source of vitamin C, Vitamin A, and many more valuable nutrients.
Did you know the pinker the watermelon is the better? Why is that? Pink watermelon is an excellent source of a valuable antioxidant called carotenoid. What is it? This potent antixodant travels through our body neutralizing free radicals. It doesn’t stop there carotenoid is also able to oxidize cholesterol which is very good. When cholesterol sticks to blood can lead to heart attacks, strokes, increase the severity of asthma attacks by causing the airways to shut down and close.
Don’t forget the seeds! Yes, watermelon seeds are actually good for you. Not only are they an excellent source of protein. They are also a good source of essential and non essential amino acids. Magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, and many other nutrients can be found in the watermelon seed. Watermelon is also a natural laxative.
Yesterday I grilled squash, tomatoes, and yellow onions that I had picked from my garden. (I wrote about it briefly at The Raw & The Cooked, Check out Summer Grilling: Vegan Cuisine I need to update with a recipe) I marinated them in a tangy sauce that I had made with balsamic vinegar, freshly squeezed oranges and lime, freshly ground peppercorns, and a tiny amount of agave nectar. The grilled veggies were a hit.
Over the years, I’ve noticed something extremely important the healthier I eat the fewer cravings I have for foods that aren’t good for me. It’s true, many critics have discussed food cravings and why we have them. Many have suggested that what our bodies is actually craving is a nutrient that are body needs. They go on to say that when people are hungry they reach for foods that aren’t the healthiest choice which does nothing to solve the need replacing the nutrient that is needed. In a few hours, the body is starving for that nutrient(s) and again we respond but with an unhealthy “food”. It’s a vicious cycle.
What would I love to make today? Some type of curry however I’m out of curry powder so I’ll be ordering mine from one of my favorite spice stores.
A few people I know think that is odd that I actually know what I’m eating, I tell them I think it’s strange that they don’t. Why would I not want to know what’s going into my body? What I consume directly affects my health. If the bad things that people consume had an instant reaction on their health (asthma, obesity, stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, high cholesterol, diabetes, colds, depression, etc.) I imagine not as many would continue to eat them.
Question: What are you eating today?
[tags]healthy, nutrition, whole foods, vegetables, vegan, The Raw and the Cooked, watermelon[/tags]
on July 11th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Oh, I’ve juiced watermelon (with the seeds) so many times it isn’t funny. I love watermelon! And I love that the juices and smoothies have so many nutrients that just rush right through our blood stream. Also love it when what we eat/drink promotes a healthy bowel (wink) and is a natural laxative.
*smiles*
JuiceGirl
JuiceGirls last blog post..Fruit Smoothie: Blueberry-Banana
on July 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Oh, and I Plurked this because it’s such great info! ;-)
*smiles*
JuiceGirl
JuiceGirls last blog post..Fruit Smoothie: Blueberry-Banana
on July 11th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
“Over the years, I’ve noticed something extremely important the healthier I eat the fewer cravings I have for foods that aren’t good for me”
That is so true, know i just crave the Budweiser!!! :) nice post
on July 11th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I’m envious! :) It’s so difficult to get sweet, juicy watermelons here (Edinburgh, Scotland).
on July 13th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I try so hard but still have cravings!! Your post really gives me hope if I stay on the right track I will succeed. Thank you!
on July 13th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Nia and I have had watermelon for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the past few days. I used to be bad about wasting food, but we made sure to eat every last scrap of that watermelon!
daras last blog post..Concerned About Greenwashing?
on August 8th, 2008 at 9:54 am
According to this article watermelon benefits the heart and the circulatory systems
Happy Girls last blog post..Road Trip
on August 12th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hi I am Laura a stay at home mom. My family loves watermelon I usually have it for dessert or as smoothies. But I haven’t tried having it for breakfast because I think it is cold for the stomach and not good in the morning.
What my family have for breakfast for today is something usual we had oatmeal w/cinnamon and fresh milk for the kids and tea for me and my husband.
Next time I will try watermelon for breakfast.
Thanks and More power.
on August 17th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
As knowledgeable as I am about food, it never dawned on me that I’ve been CRAVING watermelon every night after work. I am a waitress in a tourist area and the past two weeks have been thinking about watermelon every night after work. To rehydrate!!!! I have so waterlogged and yet don’t feel as if I’m rehydrating. Now I know why I’ve needed the watermelon! Duh. =)
on August 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
“Don’t forget the seeds!”
Gosh, do you really eat the seeds? I hate this. I have found lately a seedless watermelon (thanks to genetic engineering) and that’s my favorite one. Eating and spitting is not fun.
on August 25th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I never knew that you could eat the seeds. Thank for you sharing that information.