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Watermelon—Beyond the
Stereotype
by Wilma Ann Anderson
Picture it: The office BBQ and you're about to chomp down
on a luscious piece of thirst-quenching watermelon...BUT
WAIT! You sneak a peek to your right, then to your left
to make sure that none of your "uncolorful" co-workers
see you thoroughly enjoying a piece of watermelon. Has something
like this happened to you?
Most of us have fallen victim to the
watermelon stereotype fear (amongst others: fried chicken,
orange soda to name a few). But that fear is unfounded.
We shouldn't bear the exclusive burden of having to validate
or discredit this or other stereotypes—in this case,
we should just enjoy the watermelon!
Besides being a thirst-quencher, watermelon
has many untouted health benefits. Though oranges steal
the spotlight when it comes to vitamin C, watermelon actually
contains more per equal serving. Courtesy of watermelon.org,
here are some other fun facts:
- Watermelon is grown in
over 96 countries worldwide
- In China and Japan watermelon
is a popular gift to bring a host
- In Israel and Egypt, the sweet
taste of watermelon is often paired with the salty taste
of feta cheese
- Watermelon's official name is
Citrullus Lanatus of the botanical family Cucurbitaceae
and it is a vegetable! It is related to cucumbers, pumpkins
and squash
- By weight, watermelon is the most-consumed
melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew
- Early explorers used watermelons
as canteens
- In 2001 over 4 billion pounds
of watermelon were produced in the United States
- Watermelon is an ideal health
food because it doesn't contain any fat or cholesterol,
is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C, and contains
fiber and potassium
- Contrary to popular belief eating
watermelon seeds does not cause a watermelon to grow in
your stomach. Actually, in some cultures it is popular
to bake the seeds and then eat them
- Over 1,200 varieties of watermelon
are grown worldwide
- Every part of a watermelon is
edible, even the seeds and rinds
- The first recorded watermelon
harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.
So next time you're eyeing a piece
of watery satisfaction, don't hesitate. Eat your way to
the rind! Hey, you can even eat the rind! But, please dispose
of the seeds with the utmost of etiquette. :0)
Wilma Ann Anderson is the Editor-in-Chief
and Co-founder of Mahogany Baby. She's also an accomplished
singer, and works as a model and film executive. This mother
of four has freelanced for ESSENCE and Working Mother magazines,
enjoys crafting, and is based in New Jersey.
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