Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Honeydew: Fruit / Vegetable of the Month

The end of summer is a great time to enjoy really ripe, sweet and flavorful Honeydew melon. Honeydew seems to be available year round on the west coast of the U.S., but the best local Honeydews are ripe from August to October.
Honeydew is the sweetest melon and is closely related to cantaloupes. Honeydews were originally cultivated in France and Algeria centuries ago.
To choose a ripe honeydew look for one that is round with no blemishes. Also look for a smooth waxy surface, creamy yellow in color. A nice ripe Honeydew's flesh will contain more water and look a little darker green in color than honeydew you may see all year long. Be sure to wash the outside of your melon to remove any impurities before slicing or cubing.

Honeydews are an excellent source of Vitamin C (contains 20% or more of the Daily Value)  and are rich in phytochemicals lutein and indole which serve as antioxidants.

Serve children sweet Honeydew by itself or wrap in a piece of ham to add both protein and a more complex taste pairing.

If you are a child care provider in California you can receive cash reimbursements for providing healthy food to the children in your care. If you are a child care provider in El Dorado, Alpine, Placer, Nevada or Mono county our agency can help you enroll in the California Child Care Food Program (CCFP).

Recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables varies with age.
Children ages 2-3 need   1- 1.5 cups of fruits and 1- 1.5 cups of vegetables each day.
Children ages 4-8 need   1-2     cups of fruits and 1.5-2.5 cups of vegetables each day. 
Children ages 9-13 need 1.5-2  cups of fruits and 1.5-3.5 cups of vegetables each day.
Teens ages14-18 need   1.5 -2.5 cups of fruits and 2.5-4 cups of vegetables each day.

Keep in mind that fruits and vegetables are rich in essential vitamins and minerals needed for optimum growth and development. Check out  CDC's fruit and vegetable calculator for an more accurate recommendation based upon age, sex, and activity levels.

Remember your plate.......

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