Watermelon is one of America’s all-time favorite foods. You can find it at almost every summer picnic or outdoor party and in the produce section of most food markets. The average American eats about 17 pounds of watermelon a year.

Botanists categorize watermelon as fruit. However, some experts classify it as a vegetable because of the melon’s close relationship to the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, squash and pumpkins.

Watermelon is 92 percent water. So in addition to providing a sweet treat, watermelon can be a source of fluids for young athletes before, during and after sporting events. This doesn’t mean you should substitute it for water and sports drinks on the playing field. You still need to have those drinks nearby.

Nutritional value

Watermelon has zero saturated fat. It is low in sodium and cholesterol free. Because of its high water content, watermelon is also low in calories. The perfect food for dieters!

It is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C as well as potassium. Two cups of diced watermelon provides 20 percent of the recommended daily intake for vitamin A and 25 percent for vitamin C. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommends we include 2 cups of fruit per day in our daily diet.