Recently a friend was telling me how much she likes pomegranates but unsure how to eat them. She was in luck because I had one and showed her how quickly you can get those delicious seeds known as arils out.
I love pomegranates myself and indulge in them when they are in season. Fall to spring is the time of year they are available where I live so I make sure to get my fill during that time.
Pomegranates are packed with nutrients making them a really healthy food. They are rich in polyphenols, an antioxidant (protection for free radical damage and inflammation). Pomegranates are notable for fiber content, vitamin C and K, folate and potassium. They even have some protein. There are lots of claims that pomegranates may help with inflammation, improving memory, heart health, improve cholesterol profile, etc. It is a pretty amazing fruit.
The fastest way I know to open a pomegranate is to first roll it around the counter – it makes a nice crunching sound. Then cut the pomegranate around the middle. You do not have to cut all the way through – simply cut through the skin all the way around and then twist to separate. Do it over a bowl just in case it is a very juicy one. You don’t want to miss out on any of the juice!
Take the cut side of pomegranate into your hands as shown in the picture. Start hitting the pomegranate skin with a mallet or heavy spoon. The arils will start dropping out, over your hands and into the bowl. Sometimes the skin will start to split. You then can flip it over and peel back the pith and manually loosen up the remaining arils. The only word of caution is to not wear white or your good clothes as sometimes the juice or a seed will fly out.
Some of my favourite ways to eat pomegranates is to add them to my morning fruit and yogurt/kefir breakfast bowl or in bowl of oatmeal or toss them into a salad. Add them to your chia puddings or similar type dish. Sometimes I just have a spoonful. Sprinkle them over a dessert. And if you are not into eating the seeds, it makes a lovely juice.
So what foods are you ignoring because you are not sure what to do with them? Grocery stores can be helpful by providing cut fruits (like pineapple, watermelon and pomegranates) for those that don’t know or are in a hurry. In the past I bought foods I wasn’t sure what to do with and hoped that I would prepare them. Then they would sit in the fridge until it is too late. I have stopped myself from doing that. I learned to have the recipe first!
Next time you are shopping in your grocery store, take a look at what foods you ignore because they are too strange or you don’t have a clue what to do with them. So be curious….you just might find a new favourite food!
From the heart,
Caryl
Heart to Heart Nutrition offers nutritional consulting, a 12 week online sleep coaching program, health breakthrough coaching where deep-rooted behaviours impede the journey back to self-care, self-love and self-worth. Other services include hypnotherapy and reiki.