The Cardiologist's Wife

Pimento Cheese, Not Your Grandma's Spread

Pimento cheese is one of those foods that has been so corrupted by the food industry that it has become synonymous with other crappy foods like Spam. I'm not even certain what store bought pimento cheese might contain, nor do I want to find out. It's a shame because pimento cheese can be a delightful treat, even if it does Read the full post…

Plum Good BBQ Sandwiches

In a few days it will officially be fall but the temperatures are still warm enough for me to continue swimming for a few more days. The breeze was a little cool but that didn't stop me from swimming several laps this morning and I felt great afterwards! Have you exercised lately? With fall's cooler temperatures and fewer insects, you Read the full post…

Shingles Vacine and Treatment

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with shingles so I felt I should discuss this nasty virus once again. If you ever had chicken pox, you are at risk for getting shingles and believe me, you don't want it. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters that scab over and may take 4 weeks or more to heal. The Read the full post…

Vegetarian Tacos are muy delicioso!

There are times when I think I could easily become a vegetarian, especially when I try a new dish that is as good as the vegetarian tacos I had at Local Lime restaurant in Little Rock and the tofu fried rice at Sai Tai here in Jonesboro. My husband and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary this past weekend by spending Read the full post…

Midyear Health Check

Summer is winding down , the year is more than half way over and our January resolutions are long forgotten. It's time for a health reality check. First of all, how is your health lately? If you have enjoyed good health, are you thankful? Take some time to appreciate how wonderful it feels to be healthy, for your family to Read the full post…

Vacation Lessons For A Healthier Life

I'm back from a lovely beach vacation and I wish I was still there with all my heart. Wouldn't it be nice if our every day life was as nice as a vacation? If we could relax, eat well, sleep and exercise just enough without having to worry about bills, work, illnesses and school, our lives would be perfect. But Read the full post…

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Veggie Tales

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on August 16, 2012 ][ In Diet Tips and Better Eating Ideas, For new Mom's, Medical and Health Information, Vegetables and Fruits ]

In the coming weeks, I’d like to focus on vegetables and fruits. Most people (including me!) don’t eat enough every day. I’m hoping that by providing some nutritional information and a recipe or two, it will encourage my readers to try new things and add more fruits and vegetables to their daily diet. Don’t worry, I will also write about other things; you will just be seeing several posts on this topic. I’m kicking things off with watermelon. I think watermelon gets overlooked for it’s nutritional contribution. We tend to think of it as a summer treat but it has so much more to offer than seed spitting and eating contests.

One cup of watermelon has 46 calories, no fat and 10 grams of sugar. While there is not much fiber, it is full of the powerful anti-oxidants* vitamin A and C and contains beta carotene. When combined with vitamin A, beta carotene keeps those eyes working, prevents various cancers and reduces arthritis symptoms. It can also minimize asthmatic breathing problems. Watermelon is full of water so it is good for hydration and contains various minerals like iron. So why aren’t you eating some watermelon today? Just thinking about it makes me want a bowl full right now.

So many people don’t like to cook but with watermelon, you just slice it in half and scoop out a few balls and slap it on the table. It’s that simple. Get a seedless watermelon and you don’t even have to worry with the seeds. However there are plenty of fresh new ways to serve watermelon if you are tired of eating it plain or you’d just like to spice things up. First try just sprinkling the watermelon with salt and pepper. I like salt and pepper on any kind of melon as it brings out the sweet flavor. If you are ready for something more interesting try the Tomato and Watermelon salad I have featured here (look under salads on the recipe index). You won’t believe how wonderful watermelon tastes paired with tomatoes, red onions and red wine vinegar! I also posted a watermelon gazpacho recipe on jonesboro.com on June 27. These two recipes are both refreshing ways to get a powerful punch of vitamins, minerals and fiber, just what we need for these last days of summer.

Google watermelon recipes and experiment a bit. There are recipes for watermelon salsas and agua frescas, a non-alcoholic drink served in Mexico. I plan to try a watermelon, peach and tomato fruit cocktail this weekend after visiting the farmers’ market. I got some great peaches there last weekend so they are still available. The farmers’ market is also where I got a really sweet watermelon a couple of weeks ago.

No excuses! Serve some watermelon today and help yourself and your family eat better.

*If you would like to know more about anti-oxidants, see my post, What In The World Are Anti-Oxidants And Free Radicals, under Diet Tips and Better Eating Ideas.