Moments with Yaya
Cucumber
Yaya isn’t too sure about eating cucumber. Is it a vegetable? Is it a fruit? It just looks a little suspicious. Yaya has heard of the saying “cool as a cucumber” but this long green object still doesn’t look very appealing to her.
Cucumbers are not a vegetable, they are actually from the melon family, which makes them a delightful fruit! Did you know that cucumbers are made up of 96% water? They are rough on the outside which is their peel, and soft and juicy on the inside which is called the flesh, and contain soft edible seeds in the centre. You will find two kinds of cucumbers, those with a smooth skin and those with a bumpy rough skin. The skin of the cucumber is there to prevent bugs and garden creatures from eating the delicious flesh inside. The scientific name for a cucumber is Cucumis sativus. This is a difficult name to pronounce, so you can just call it a cucumber!
LEARN ABOUT CUCUMBERS
Cucumber can be eaten in a number of ways. Cucumbers make a healthy snack for school or great for adding to salads. Some people put slices of cucumber into their drinking water, to give it a fresh taste. There are even ice creams made out of cucumber. Many people pickle them to preserve them as a snack with their food.
The saying “cool as a cucumber” is actually a true fact, and cucumbers have the ability to cool down the temperature of your blood, cooling down your body as well as acting as an inflammatory. That is why people put cucumber slices on their face when they have puffy eyes.
Another great fact is that instead of eating a breath mind for bad breath, a slice of cucumber can do the job just as well! Cucumber is a natural stress relief and contains a number of healthy vitamins including Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
When you feeling tired and need a little energy boost, cucumbers can provide a natural source of Vitamin B, which gives you more energy to play and run around. Cucumbers are filled with antioxidants, which help prevent you from becoming ill or getting diseases. You can grow a cucumber in your garden by planting the seeds in the ground and make sure they get plenty of sun. To make sure they don’t grow into a bitter tasting fruit, make sure they get a lot of water. It take about three months to grow your very own cucumbers.
Ask your mom or dad to cut up cucumber into sticks and add some cheese cubes for a yummy filling and healthy snack!
