Watermelons for kids make for a delicious summer snack. In addition, there are various health benefits of eating watermelon. The fruit is high in essential nutrients and contains 92% water, which can help your child stay hydrated during the summer. It can also be used as baby food, but make sure to remove all of the seeds before giving them to your child. Read on to learn more about the health benefits of watermelon and some child-friendly watermelon recipes.
Nutrients In Watermelon
Watermelons are storehouses of nutrients. For your benefit, we list the nutrients in watermelon, along with their health benefits (1):
Lycopene: It is an antioxidant that helps maintain a healthy heart, bones and also prevents cancer. Vitamin A: This Vitamin is good for eyes and skin. Vitamin B1: This Vitamin helps the body to use food for getting energy. Vitamin B6: Helps in fighting infections. Vitamin C: This Vitamin makes the immune system stronger thereby keeps your child from falling sick. Citrulline: It is an amino acid that converts to arginine. This amino acid promotes healthy blood circulation and maintains cardiovascular health.
Health Benefits Of Watermelon For Kids
Watermelons have a plethora of health benefits. Here are some of the amazing things that watermelon can do for your children (2) (3).
Watermelons work wonders to combat the heat. Watermelons help prevent Asthma. Watermelons help maintain a healthy blood pressure. Watermelons help regulate digestion and maintain healthy bowel movements. It also hydrates the body. Watermelons also reduce muscle soreness.
Watermelons are good for maintaining a healthy skin. It is also called an anti-inflammatory fruit. The lycopene present in watermelons is an inhibitor of various inflammatory processes. It works as an antioxidant and neutralizes free radicals in the body.
Health Risks Of Watermelon For Kids
A moderate amount of watermelon is good for your kid’s health. However, as the saying goes that an excess of everything is bad. Thus, if your kid eating watermelon overeats and consumes more than a considerable amount of the fruit, then they might fall sick and experience some side effects. Here, we list some effects of excess watermelon consumption:
Nausea Vomiting Stomach Bloating Diarrhea
Indigestion
How Can You Serve Watermelon?
Does your budding champ make faces whenever you serve them watermelon? Do not worry, and have a look at these delicious watermelon recipes for kids that you can prepare.
Minted Watermelon Salad:
Cut a quarter of the watermelon and put the pieces on the plate. Now add some amount of thin slices of red onion, half cup mint leaves. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on it and serve.
Tomato And Watermelon Salad:
This salad is for all palates. If your kid is a finicky eater, then make them a salad of tomato pieces, watermelon cut into smaller chunks topped up with some onion. They surely will ask for some more!
Watermelon Juice:
If your sweetie hates eating the melon, then try offering them some juice. Chop some seedless watermelon and add finely grated ginger to it. Now add some lime juice to the paste and blend all the ingredients well in a blender till the mixture becomes smooth. Now sieve the mixture into a glass and add mint leaves to garnish. Here is the watermelon smoothie for kids. Add some ice cubes and serve.
