treat – FaithFueled™ Mom

Watermelon Rind

Happy Independence Day! Are you planning on attending a Barbecue today? Will there probably be Watermelon served? Have you been told that if you eat the Watermelon Rind, it will make you sick? Well, I am a living testament that is a myth. People toss the watermelon when it gets to the crunchy white part of the watermelon, but this is probably the most nutritious part of the fruit. The entire watermelon from flesh to seed is edible and delicious. I prefer the rind over the pink flesh, but I am not your typical person.

Seeded Wateremelon

Watermelon Rind has so many great nutrients in it, a very mild flavor and an excellent way to save on waste. If those reasons don’t persuade you there are also these four:

Chlorophyll
Helps with blood building contains more of the amino acid; Citrulline than the pink flesh.
Additional Vitamins
Contains Vitamin C, Fiber, Potassium and small amount of Vitamin B6
Low Calorie
It contains fewer calories. Therefore, it will add bulk and variety without adding to your caloric intake.
Taste
Taste like a cucumber; everything from skin to seeds of a watermelon is edible.

Watermelon is a staple at our house whether cooking out or just another day is Watermelon. I typically keep the rinds and freeze them to juice. So, I will cut the skins off before serving and place them in a storage container to freeze. I try to stock up during the summer in Watermelon Rinds because they are readily available and useful for you all year long. They have very bland flavor and if eaten raw a big crunch.

There are so many ways that you can eat Watermelon Rind; pickled, preserved, chutney, raw, in a salad, stir-fry, juice or a smoothie. The easiest way that I have found to get my kids to eat it is to make it a refreshing smoothie or popsicle. It’s a great way to get those wonderful nutrients in and save the waste.

watermelon rind popsicles

I’ve tried it both ways with the skin and without the skin. If you have a good blender, like a Vitamix or Ninja would include the skin because it is edible and will break it down so that it doesn’t affect the texture. If you do not, I would recommend including the skin because it can be a weird texture kind of like pulp in Orange Juice. Also, as far as taste goes it will not overpower the Popsicle so don’t be scared!

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Meal Time Monday

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Lemon Coconut Protein Chia Pudding

Meal Time Monday [Autosaved]

LemonCoconut.ChiaPudding

It sounds good, right? Well it is absolutely amazing! I have been dabbling in Chia Seed flavors lately. One because it is so good; second it is really easy and third it will kill a sugar craving and leave you full and satisfied. It’s the perfect snack, breakfast! I’ve made some questionable flavor combinations but this one by far is the yummiest! I had to share.

Chia Seed is also very beneficial it is rich in fiber, omega-3 fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. Some benefits of Chia seeds are:

Great for your Skin and Aging- it contains antioxidants that help accelerate skin repair and also inhibit skin from future damage.
Great for digestion- Chia seed is very-high in fiber it is said to contain about 11 grams per ounce. Meaning one serving of Chia Seed can be your recommended fiber intake for the day! Fiber is critical for your body to help it balance your insulin levels and known as a blood sugar balancer.
Great for your Heart Health– Chia Seed has been know to:
– reverse inflammation,

– regulate cholesterol and lower blood pressure make it extremely beneficial to consume for heart health.

– reversing oxidative stress

*according to an article published in the journal Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials:
Great for treatment of Diabetes– A study done came to the conclusion that eating chia seeds entirely inhibited the start of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. There has been claims that it can halt or reverse diabetes. (I’m not making them but some researchers have been bold enough to come to that conclusion after laboratory testing.
Great for an extra Boost Your Energy & Metabolism- The addition of chia seeds will help boost your metabolism and burn belly fat. It reduces visceral adipose tissue also known as belly fat tissue which has an effect on your ability to burn calories.
Great for Stronger Bones- One ounce of Chia Seeds is 18% of the daily recommended calcium intake.
Great to help you Build Muscle & Lose Weight- Chia seed is an excellent plant based protein. It has been recommened for people wanting to burn fat, get lean muscle and balance blood sugar levels.

I lift really heavy and have a high protein allocation in my diet so I am always trying new protein based treats. I also love it for my daughter because it’s a wholesome meal in the morning and they can just grab their jar and go! I don’t let them take it to school because of the glass but they each have one and just unscrew the lid and eat. It’s nice for those busy school day mornings. I don’t know about you but I am prepping for Back To School so testing out new flavors to keep them interested has been fun! They can even make this on their own which my oldest one loves to do.

I have been going Lemon crazy lately. I am not sure if it’s because its summer time and its refreshing. Citrus is also great for helping absorb iron and it just makes everything taste yummy. From your bowl of fruit to your piece of chicken fresh squeezed lemon juice is always a great addition to a meal. It’s versatility also allows for a lot of different flavor combinations. The great thing about this pudding too is the Coconut is not overpowering. If you don’t like coconut omit it and you have a Lemon “Meringue”ish Chia Pudding.

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