This post is sponsored by Watermelon.org However, all opinions, comments and enthusiasm remain my own.

Hello 2021, feeling good like I should thanks to a healthy lifestyle and positive mindset fueled in part by watermelon. Yeah, there have been a few bumps in the road over the last year, but I’m standing firm in my positive attitude – “Don’t let seeds stop you from enjoying the whole watermelon.” It’s Watermelon 2021~

It’s not just a cute quote, it’s a life metaphor that we should be taken to heart and put into action daily. I’m not going to let the trials and tribulations that many of us have been experiencing keep me from having my best year yet. AND, actually, you may be surprised to discover that watermelon seeds are actually not the nuisance people make them out to be. They are edible and nutritious, just like any other seed and should be considered an asset in your whole fruit experience!  Read on to learn more about watermelon seeds and find out my favorite watermelon seed recipes.

Are Watermelon Seeds Edible? Onward to learning more about watermelon seeds and watermelon seed nutrition, since I am convincing you to embrace them literally and figuratively in 2021. I get the question “Can I eat watermelon seeds” frequently. Watermelon seeds are seeds like any other seed, simply put. YES you can eat watermelon seeds and a melon will not grow in your belly despite over-dramatic grandmothers and folklore exclaiming otherwise. They are nutrient dense and a good source of plant proteins, vitamins, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, copper, potassium and more.

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So, how do you prepare watermelon seeds to eat? Just gulping them down won’t do you much good, unless chewed up or ground, watermelon seeds are mostly undigestible. You can roast and “crunchify” the big black ones found in old-school seeded watermelons by tossing in olive oil, sprinkling with salt and roast for 20 minutes at 325F in the oven. You can also sprout those watermelon seeds to maximize their nutritional content. First, soak the seeds in water overnight, then wrap in paper towels kept damp and wait a few days until they’re visibly sprouted. Then, roast them in the oven or place in a dehydrator. It’s quite the process with small-scale yields, that’s why I prefer to purchase a bag full of Sprouted Watermelon Seeds – there are several brands you can find at your health food store or online marketplace.

Also, it’s of interest to note that the small white seeds you sometimes find in seedless watermelons are the hollow shells of seeds that haven’t matured yet. These “whities” are also infertile – if you tried to plant them, they would never grow. The randomly occurring black seed in seedless watermelon is a viable seed, I covet finding one in a seedless watermelon so I can practice spitting it for distance. Kidding, not kidding – I’ve been obsessed with watermelon seed spitting since I visited the permanent watermelon seed spitting venue, the “Spitway,” in Lulling, Texas where the World Championship is held every June. Best record set there is 69 feet, the current record is 75 feet! I think I can spit mine about 4 feet, lol!

Trying to spit watermelon seeds with the “rolled tongue” method.

 Healthy Recipes with Watermelon Seeds:

Super “Reds” Watermelon Quinoa Salad: From my blog archives, this hearty salad features both watermelon flesh AND watermelon seeds along with red quinoa, red onions and red beets! You can see why I named it Super “Reds”! Also, some trivia – I tried out for Master Chef with this recipe in 2015 and made it to the final round (but ultimately not cast for the show, alas. Apparently, I need more drama in my life – ha!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seed Butter Toast: This is a “no recipe” recipe suitable for a quick snack, breakfast or even lunch on the fly. Toast up bread of choice (this is a Paleo option) and spread with seed butter (I used pumpkin seed butter, but there are other options – even watermelon seed butter)! Sprinkle the top with sprouted watermelon seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds and a few mini-chocolate chips if desired! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprouted Watermelon Seed Bites: From the Watermelon.org recipe collection, this yummy little snack is dense with nutrients and quick sustaining energy from dates, coconut butter, watermelon flesh and watermelon seeds! Store in the freezer and pop one out when you need a quick boost!

Thai Style Shrimp with Watermelon Rind Ceviche: This exotic and flavorful recipe uses watermelon seeds but also the typically discarded (but completely edible) watermelon rind! The rind is not sweet like the pink flesh, more like a crisp but watery cucumber. Use a potato peeler to shave off thin strips that can be used as super low-cal, low-carb noodles – and then pat yourself on the back for being so resourceful by using these typically-tossed parts of the watermelon.

Simple Roasted Watermelon Seeds: Add some crunch to the big black ones found in old-school seeded watermelons by tossing in olive oil, sprinkling with salt. Roast for 20 minutes at 325F in the oven. At this point, the eating experience is similar to sunflower seeds in shell – crack open and discard the outer black coating to eat the more tender seed in the center.

Visit Watermelon.org to learn more about watermelon for health and get more watermelon tips and amazing watermelon recipe.