Pineapple DAY!
It is international world pineapple day on 27th June! Making it the perfect day to learn more about the nutrition of pineapple, key facts, and fun ways to incorporate pineapple into a healthy diet.
Why Pineapple?
Pineapple is a versatile fruit which can be eaten as a healthy snack, as well as in sweet or savoury dishes; making pineapples an easy and adaptable addition to the diet.
80g portion of pineapple contributes towards
- 5-a-day intake: helping increase your daily fruit and vegetable intake to meet the daily 5-a-day recommendations
- Vitamin C intake: a portion of pineapple provides 42.4 mg of vitamin C which is 106% of daily recommendations. Helping to maintain health skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage as well as wound healing
- Manganese: a portion of pineapple provides 1.2mg of manganese. Supporting the creation and activation of enzymes
Did you Know?
Pineapples take time to grow! It can take 18-24 months for a pineapple to mature into the sweet fruit we enjoy.
Don’t believe us? You can plant the top of a pineapple and it will regrow (although patience is required!)
Planting Tips
Twist Off the Crown:
Remove the leafy top from a fresh pineapple and peel off a few bottom leaves to expose the stem.
Let It Dry:
Leave the crown in a cool, dry place for about a week so the cut end can heal and prevent rot.
Root in Water:
Place the dried crown in a glass of water (stem only), and keep it in bright, indirect light. Change the water every few days. Wait until the roots are about 3 inches long.
Plant in Soil:
Transfer the rooted crown to a pot or garden with well-draining soil. Choose a sunny spot and don’t bury the leaves.
Care and Grow:
Water lightly when the top inch of soil is dry. Keep the plant in warm temperatures with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Be patient — fruit may take 1–2 years to grow!
Pineapple Suggestions
Pineapple’s versatility makes it even more interesting to consume!
Pineapples can be eaten raw on their own as a great sweet snack. You can cut pineapple in many ways to make the snack more fun!
Dried pineapple is another great snack that can be an easy on the go snack!
Adding pineapple to savoury dishes can add a tasty sweet taste contrast. Pineapple is incorporated into many dishes including Pizza (although an controversial selection) and the Mexican Salsa de piña.
Pineapples can be incorporated into baked goods as well for example a pineapple upside-down cake.
Ingredients for Mexican Salsa de Piña!
Try it at home!
- 1 cup fresh pineapple, finely diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
- 1 small jalapeño or serrano pepper, minced (adjust to taste)
- ¼ cup fresh coriander, chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt to taste
- Optional: ½ small avocado, diced (for creaminess)
- Optional: a dash of chili powder or Tajín for extra spice
Recipe created by myfood24 nutritionists, inspired by Mexican Food Journal’s Salsa De Piña con habanero chile recipe
myfood24
Want to see the positive impact of incorporating pineapple into your diet? You can analyse dietary intake by using myfood24.
Myfood24’s range of accurately, nutritionist quality checked databases and language versions can be used by researchers to conduct accurate dietary assessments, as an educational tool for teaching or to enhance your own application by integrating our comprehensive databases through our API.
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You can find out more about how you can use myfood24 by trying our free demo or get in touch.
Author: Lucy Clarkson, SENr Nutritionist
Editor: Jessica Eardley-Thompson, ANutr Nutritionist, Grace Williams, Head of Nutrition and Operations