Calories in Watermelon

I love watermelon. I grow it in my garden, and when my own watermelon plants don't have melons, I buy them at the market, preferably organic. We will talk about the calories; a watermelon has some calories, although not a lot, and it is a great thirst quencher on hot summer days. I am going to share my favourite watermelon recipes with you!

There are many delicious recipes with watermelon. The calories are not an issue if you use it in little chunks to kill your hunger pangs when you're dieting, and I will give you a recipe too, which I myself find delicious, and my children find that too (which is not so easy).

Watermelon combines great with other fruit, just try out your own preferred combination!

I love it with papaya, grapes, apple.

And as a started I often use melon with presunto, the Iberian dried ham which is so well-known for it's distinguishing flavour. The best hams have been dried for 3 years!

Maple Citrus Watermelon Glazed Chicken

Watermelon Glaze

Ingredients:

2 cups watermelon puree

Juice from 3 fresh lemons

1 tablespoon lemon zest

½ cup maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:

Simmer ingredients together in a heavy saucepan for 20 minutes or until sauce is thick

Servings: Makes 2 cups. Keep warm.

Chicken

Ingredients:

Skinless boneless chicken breast splits

2 cups pineapple juice

½ cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

3 cloves minced fresh garlic

Instructions: Place the chicken in a large zipper lock bag with rest of the ingredients and seal tightly. Allow to marinate at least 2 hours or up to 12. Grill until cooked and arrange on a warm platter. Pour the glaze over the chicken and serve immediately.

Servings: Serves 8.

from: www.watermelon.org

Serving Size 1 wedge (approx 1/16 of melon) (286g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 86

Calories from Fat 4

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0.4g 1%

Saturated Fat 0g 0%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 2.9mg 0%

Potassium 320.3mg 9%

Total Carbohydrate 21.6g 7%

Dietary Fiber 1.1g 0%

Sugars 17.7g 6%

Protein 1.7g 3%

Vitamin A 33%•Vitamin C 39%

Calcium 2%•Iron 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Eagle Eye sent this recipe in the comment section - What a wonderful idea! If you have your own watermelon favorite, please share and I can add it to the recipes here!

Eagle Eye's recipe:

Watermelon juice with fresh mint.

Cut cubes of watermelon, and add them to a few ice cubes and a few torn up mint leaves in the blender. Blitz in the blender for a minute or so until blended. She writes "Yummy and very refreshing!" - I tried it and it IS very yummie! thanks for that!

Chef Howie Schwartz makes it a bit more sophisticated (and with more calories..):

He throws 1 to 2 cups seedless watermelon chunks in the blender with 1 tablespoon of honey,
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves (or to taste). Quickly blend (don't overdo it). Then mix in the yoghurt and the cinnamon using the pulse function just until it is smooth.

Seems yummie too, I haven't tried it yet (because of the honey...)

If you try it, tell us which one you prefer!

(Recipe rom http://www.care2.com/greenliving/watermelon-mint-smoothie-recipe.html)

Calories in Dried Watermelon Seed Kernels

Serving Size 1 cup (108.0 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 602 kcal

Calories from Fat 460 kcal

Daily Value (based on 2000 kcal diet)

Total Fat 51.2g 79%

Saturated Fat 10.6g 53%

Polyunsaturated Fat 30.3g

Monounsaturated Fat 8.0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 107mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 16.5g 6%

Protein 30.6g

Vitamin A 0%

Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 6%

Iron 44%

Good points:

• Very low in sodium
• No sugar
• Very high in magnesium
• High in phosphorus
• High in zinc