Watermelon refresher

Timaree Hagenburger
The Nutrition Professor
Cosumnes River College, Sacramento

Mint, cucumber, lime and watermelon pair nicely for a fun, healthful way to help keep you hydrated. Tip: The nutritional value of watermelon is highest right after it has been cut, before refrigeration. The white part of the rind is good for you, too!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups watermelon (with white rind; see tip)
3/4 cup cucumber chunks
2 to 4 tbsp. chopped fresh mint
Zest and juice of 1 lime (see tip)
Ice cubes
2 tsp. chia seeds (optional)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender, adding as little or as much ice as desired.

The Nutrition Professor's Shop Smart/Prep Smart Tips:

Enjoy as much of the white rind as possible, as it contains many helpful phytonutrients, including an amino acid that has been shown to improve blood circulation. Just discard the very outer green layer of skin.
Be sure to zest citrus fruits before cutting them into pieces to squeeze the juice. A microplane is my favorite zesting tool. We want the zest, as it may prevent skin cancer.