STRAWBERRY CANTALOUPE BABY FOOD RECIPE: FACTS
STRAWBERRY FACTS
As follows are some very fun facts about strawberries:
- The strawberry, a member of the rose family, is the only fruit with seeds on the outside. And on average, there are 200 seeds on each berry.
- Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.
- Eight strawberries will provide 140 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C for kids.
- If all the strawberries produced in California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around the world 15 times.
- Current research suggests that eating just 8 strawberries a day can improve heart health, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, reduce the risk of cancers and even improve cognitive function.
- Pregnant women who eat strawberries can lower the risks of birth defects in their children, such as spina bifida.
- The combination of nutrients in strawberries leads to the prevention of and suppression of cancer cells! What other reason could you need?
- Forget Carrots! Strawberries score in the fruit group with the highest antioxidant values, which can help to prevent cataracts and other eye degeneration.
- Madame Tallien, a prominent woman in Emperor Napoleon’s court, was famous for taking baths of fresh strawberry juice. She used 22 pounds per basin.
- The American Indians introduced the Colonists to strawberries. The crushed berries were mixed with cornmeal and baked into bread. After trying this bread, Colonists developed their own version of the recipe and created Strawberry Shortcake.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CANTALOUPE
VITAMIN A
Beta-carotene, an orange pigment serves as a source of vitamin A. Vitamin A helps maintain healthy tissues, contributing to bone maintenance, functional retinas, skin cell growth and a strong immune system. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to loss of vision and a weak immune system.
VITAMIN C
Eating fresh cantaloupe also boosts intake of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. As an antioxidant nutrient, vitamin C protects cells from oxidative damage, or DNA damage. DNA damage leads to disease. That is why vitamin C is known as an immune system booster.
POTASSIUM
Cantaloupe contains potassium, which helps support metabolism, activating enzymes responsible for breaking down carbohydrates into usable fuel. It also contributes to nerve impulses and muscle contractions.
HOW TO PICK A RIPE CANTALOUPE MELON FOR THE PERFECT BABY FOOD PUREE!
It is easy to pick a ripe cantaloupe if you know a few simple facts. First off, examine the melon. Make sure there are not any defects including soft spots, cracks, or mold. Put the melon in your hands and see if it feels heavy. A juicy fresh melon should feel dense and heavy. Examine the area where the stem used to be connected to the fruit. The stem should have a concave dimple. If this portion is convex, the fruit is not ripe. This area should also appear green and smooth. Jagged edges indicate that the melon was picked too early. Examine the other end of the melon, known as the blossom. Gently press on other end of the melon and press on it with your thumb. If this portion is hard, the melon is not ripe. If this portion give way with slight pressure, then the melon is ripe. Make sure the melon is not too squishy over any portion, as this suggests the melon is overripe and gone bad. Lastly, smell the melon. Cantaloupe has a sweet odor that is also musky, hence the melon’s alternate name, the “musk melon”. Cantaloupes only exhibit this aroma when at room temperature.
STRAWBERRY CANTALOUPE BABY FOOD RECIPE: INGREDIENTS
1/2 cantaloupe, peeled and chopped
4 strawberries, stems removed and sliced
2 tbs rice cereal, optional
STRAWBERRY CANTALOUPE BABY FOOD RECIPE: STEPS
- Place the fruits in the food processor. Puree.
- If the puree is not thick enough for your baby, add rice cereal.
- Serve or freeze.