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 popsicles 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 Popsicles
Equipment
- 6 small 6-ounce paper cups
- 6 popsicle sticks or plastic spoons
- blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup watermelon chunks seedless
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Mix watermelon, orange juice, and water together in a blender until smooth. Pour into paper cups and place in the freezer.
- When pops are partially frozen, insert sticks or small plastic spoons into the cups. These will be your handles. Continue freezing until the popsicles are hard.
- When it is time to serve, dip each cup into warm water and pull the popsicle from its wrapper.
Notes
Chef's Tips: Warm water makes it easier to remove the cups from the frozen mixture, leaving you with a delicious summer treat on a stick!
Nutrition Facts: Each 4-oz popsicle contains 37 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 mg sodium, 9 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 0 g protein.
Copyright foodandhealth.com, reprinted with permission.
More ways to enjoy watermelon: