July Harvest of the Month - Cucumbers!
Cucumber Nutrition
Cucumbers are naturally low in calories, carbohydrates, sodium, fat and cholesterol.
o 1 cup of cucumber (with the peel) is only 16 calories.
15 calories without the peel
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest 3-5 servings of vegetables per day
o ½ cup of cucumber counts as 1 serving of vegetables
They also contain important nutrients our body needs like potassium and magnesium that aid in hydration within the body.
Cucumbers are a good source of phytonutrients, that help aid in disease prevention and protection.
Cool Cucumber Facts
Most people think cucumbers are a vegetable, but they are actually a fruit!
o Cucumbers are a fruit because they contain seeds and are grown from a flowering plant.
Cucumbers are a part of the Cucurbitaceae Family
o This family also includes squashes and melons
Cucumbers are 95 % water
o About 20-30% of our daily fluid intake comes from food in our diet
Pickles are just cucumbers that are not fully grown
There are hundreds of different types of cucumbers that come in a variety of size and
color
o Slicing and pickling cucumbers are the two classifications of the edible cucumbers
The most common type of cucumber found in the grocery store is a garden cucumber
o Cucumis sativus is the name of the most common garden cucumber
Cucumbers are naturally low in calories, carbohydrates, sodium, fat and cholesterol.
o 1 cup of cucumber (with the peel) is only 16 calories.
15 calories without the peel
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest 3-5 servings of vegetables per day
o ½ cup of cucumber counts as 1 serving of vegetables
They also contain important nutrients our body needs like potassium and magnesium that aid in hydration within the body.
Cucumbers are a good source of phytonutrients, that help aid in disease prevention and protection.
Cool Cucumber Facts
Most people think cucumbers are a vegetable, but they are actually a fruit!
o Cucumbers are a fruit because they contain seeds and are grown from a flowering plant.
Cucumbers are a part of the Cucurbitaceae Family
o This family also includes squashes and melons
Cucumbers are 95 % water
o About 20-30% of our daily fluid intake comes from food in our diet
Pickles are just cucumbers that are not fully grown
There are hundreds of different types of cucumbers that come in a variety of size and
color
o Slicing and pickling cucumbers are the two classifications of the edible cucumbers
The most common type of cucumber found in the grocery store is a garden cucumber
o Cucumis sativus is the name of the most common garden cucumber
