Watermelon Cocoa Bowl

A smoothie fruit bowl is the perfect thing to enjoy during the dog days of summer. Watermelon is a refreshing and hydrating fruit that makes a great addition to your breakfast fruit bowl.

This watermelon cocoa bowl is an easy breakfast that can be served in a bowl topped with your favorite granola or in a tall glass to slowly sip as you head out the door. 

Wake Up With Watermelon

Watermelon is in abundance during the summer. It’s a fruit that’s low in calories and full of electrolytes. It is also nourishing, light and hydrating, and makes for a great start to a summer morning.

Great for staying hydrated, watermelon has a very high water content and provides nutrients like lycopene, citrulline, and vitamins A and C. Studies suggest that this sweet, red melon may even boost heart health, reduce muscle soreness, and decrease inflammation, though more research is needed.

Watermelon Benefits That'll Make You Lose Your Rind!

At just 46 calories per cup, watermelon packs a punch when it comes to nutrients. It contains about 15% of your daily vitamin C needs, along with a wealth of other vitamins and minerals including potassium and vitamin A and B6.

Vitamin C strengthens your immune system and helps your body absorb iron, while vitamin A is crucial for skin and eye health. Watermelon is also rich in potassium, which works to lower blood pressure and supports nerve functioning, and vitamin B6, which helps your body break down the proteins that you eat and also boosts the immune system and nerve function.

Did you know watermelon has more lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable? Lycopene is an antioxidant linked to decreased risk of cancer, heart disease and age-related eye disorders.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Safely

Watermelon may be sweet, but it’s also one of the lowest calorie fruits out there. At just 46 calories and less than 10 grams of sugar per cup, it’s a sweet tooth’s dream without all the added sugar, body fat, and diabetes risk.

Trying to keep your blood glucose levels steady? Watermelon can be a bit problematic, but can certainly be eaten as part of a low-fat, plant-based, whole-food diet. Watermelon has a glycemic index (GI) value of 80, and is one of the only fruits in this “high” glycemic category. Because of that, it’s important to eat watermelon slowly so that you can limit the rate of absorption of glucose into your blood. 

Buying Tips

Pick a melon that’s free of dents, nicks, and bruises. Look for a yellow, not white, spot on the bottom. This signals that it’s ripe. A juicy, ready-to-eat watermelon will feel heavy for its size. 

Tapping the outside can give a clue as to the texture of the fruit inside. Listen for a light and almost hollow sounding thud. This indicates the water and fruit contained is intact and has a stable structure.

Include Cocoa Powder - Powerful Stuff!

Cocoa powder provides tons of benefits, especially if your powder is at least 72% cocoa. Cocoa powder contains iron, zinc, and selenium. These minerals help your body function and give your immune system a boost. 

Cocoa is one of the richest sources of polyphenols. It’s especially abundant in flavanols, which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. They have been linked to numerous health benefits, including reduced inflammation, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, better blood flow, lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

Cocoa is known to be one of the healthiest ways to keep your body energized and awake as it contains a healthy amount of caffeine (and caffeine consumption helps to boost energy and fight fatigue). Not only does it have a good amount of caffeine, but it contains magnesium as well. Two tablespoons of cocoa powder has about 14% of your body’s daily value of Magnesium. 

Magnesium has been found to keep your body energized naturally. Magnesium has been found to protect your body against other issues such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and osteoporosis. When buying cocoa powder, make sure that you buy unsweetened cocoa powder with no ingredients added. 

Like the rest of your spice collection, cocoa powder should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, such as your pantry or cupboard. The fridge or freezer might seem tempting, but both of those spots actually foster humid environments, they should be avoided. Well-stored cocoa powder will keep for up to two years, but the strength of flavor does fade a bit over time.