One aspect of nutritional counseling in Victorville, CA, is helping our clients understand what they can eat. All too often diets get focused on lists of foods to avoid and can feel binding – or even punitive. But we love to find foods which are diet-friendly and delicious so that our clients can feel better about their meal plan!
One fruit we love re-introducing people to at our Victorville weight loss clinic is watermelon. Watermelon – as well as the other melons – are perfect for a wide range of diets because they’re relatively low-calorie and low-carb, even compared to other fruits, while still being delicious and filling.
Here’s a quick breakdown on why watermelon should be on your plate!
Victorville Nutritional Counseling Experts on The Benefits of Watermelon
Fruits can be tricky for dieters because while they are full of healthy fiber, they tend to be very calorie-heavy, as well as full of sugars. (Although natural fructose is much better for you than processed sugar!) Watermelon compares very favorably against other fruits in this area.
In a half-cup serving, most fruits and berries have around 60 calories and 15 grams of carbs. That’s not huge, but it can add up – particularly when fruits are usually only a side, or maybe dessert. However, for watermelons and other melons, both the carbs and calories are cut in half!
So, you can have twice as much watermelon as other fruit, without harming your diet.
The important thing, of course, is portion control. Don’t simply eat large slices or “personal sized” melons. Measure it out. Make sure you’re not eating too much.
This might raise the question: why do melons have such smaller calorie and carb counts? Well, the simple answer is that they’re full of water. A watermelon is more than 90% water by weight, so the majority of it passes right through you. By comparison, apples are 85% water, and bananas are only 75% water.
On top of that, watermelons have other surprisingly good nutritional benefits, despite how little solid material is involved. They are high in both Vitamin C and Vitamin A, with roughly 20% of your daily value for each in a single serving. Watermelon is also a source of the antioxidant called lycopene, which is often credited with heart health benefits. (Lycopene can be found in most red or pink fruits and vegetables.)
Plus, of course, you don’t even need to prepare watermelon. It’s perfectly delicious just as it is!
RCMC Wants to Help Make A Better You
Our nutritional counseling clinic in Victorville, CA, is dedicated to helping our clients lose weight and end up looking great. From diets to more advanced approaches, we can create a weight loss plan customized for your needs.