Watermelon with Cinnamon

Watermelon with Cinnamon is the most delightful snack to have in warm weather!! It’s sweet, juicy and refreshing especially when it is served cold from the fridge. When I was little I would sprinkle extra sugar on watermelon – I know – what was I thinking! Watermelon, when it is ripe and in season is so deliciously sweet! Adding in some cinnamon is a great way to add some extra fiber and to balance your blood sugar. For those of you with diabetes, this is a perfect snack for you!

Scientifically known as Citrullus lanatus, watermelon is native to Africa. Around 2000 BC, Egypt began cultivating the delicious pink-fleshed fruit and used it among other things as a portable water source, thus allowing them to move and explore further north and east into the Mediterranean, India, and China.

It was very popular in North America among Natives and European Settlers in the 17th century, where through breeding and experimentation we get the large sweet varieties of watermelon one finds at a grocery store today (perhaps they at slightly bigger today but they did have over 400 years of natural development).

This snack is very easy to make, you just need a watermelon and some cinnamon. I would go with organic Ceylon ground cinnamon, you don’t need any added chemicals on your spice.  Now for choosing a watermelon, you want it to be heavy and give it a knock. It should give off a hollow sound. 

How to Cut a Watermelon into Perfect Cubes

Cut the watermelon in half (either way) and then cut it in half again so you have a nice quarter (a triangular shape). With a knife cut the watermelon flesh from the rind. Leave it on the rind. Beginning from one side of the rind moving upwards towards the top of the watermelon slice, cut diagonal spices, do this on both sides. Then turn the watermelon and cut it vertically. You will now have perfectly cut watermelon that will come off easily and is such a fancy way to present it. 

Nutritional Value

Watermelon is a high source of Vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid and copper. Don’t forget to eat the seeds, they contain both Iron and Zinc and are a source of protein. It is also an excellent source of lycopene which is a carotenoid phytonutrient important for our cardiovascular health. Being high in antioxidants makes watermelon a great anti-inflammatory fruit, aiding in the reduction of oxidative stress.

Adding Cinnamon is a great way to add some extra flavor and sweetness without adding any extra sugar. Cinnamon is great for regulating blood sugar levels, is a powerful antioxidant and a source of fiber.