National Watermelon Day falls each year on August 3rd. Watermelon are easy to grow. They need lots of water. If it's too late in the season to grow them, you'll find the price comes down during the summer. Look for watermelon to go on sale during summer holidays like Labor Day or for National Watermelon Day.
Watermelon is one of the best fruits to have around in the summer. Its nutritional benefits are one reason, but there are others.
Watermelon Contains a Lot of Water
On a hot summer's day, watermelon cubes provide a lot of water. If your parents struggle to stay hydrated and aren't enthusiastic about drinking glasses of water, chilled watermelon cubes are the perfect solution. One cup of watermelon has just 46 calories and 92 percent of that cup of fruit is water.
The Nutritional Benefits of Watermelon
In a one-cup serving of watermelon, your parents are getting almost gram of fiber. That's not all, They're getting 170 mg of potassium and about 2 percent of their daily requirement of iron. Upwards of 20 percent of the daily requirement of vitamins A and C are also found in one cup of watermelon.
Tips for Picking and Using Up a Watermelon
To pick a ripe watermelon, look at the color of the melon where it sat on the ground. You want one that is creamy white rather than yellow. Pick it up and tap the bottom. If it sounds hollow, it is a good choice. It should also feel heavy for its size.
At home, you can cut it into cubes and store it in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. If you want to freeze the cubes, you can do that too and use them to make fruit smoothies. If you're freezing it, make sure you get the seedless variety.
Watermelon is versatile, so you can do a lot with it. Blend it with mint and lemon juice for a refreshing cold summer soup. Use frozen watermelon as ice cubes in water. Puree it with some lemon and honey and freeze in popsicle molds for a summer treat. Watermelon is great in salsas and salads.
If your mom and dad no longer cook meals due to joint pain or arthritis, they can still enjoy home-cooked meals with the help of elderly care aides. Hire a caregiver to come each day and cook their meals. They gain the nutritional benefits of meals that aren't takeout or frozen dinners. They also gain companionship when the elderly care aide stops by.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING HIRING ELDER CARE IN THE NEAR NORTH, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.