Food Facts

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1. Broccoli is a member of the mustard family.
2. Apples and pears both belong to the rose family.
3. Hot dogs? That's what Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt served to King George VI in a 1939 picnic in Hyde Park.
4. Fresh cranberries have 86-percent more vitamin C than canned cranberries.
5. Raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and loganberries contain "ellagic acid", a substance which is now studied as a natural preventive for certain types of cancer.
6. One cup of strawberries, fresh or frozen, contains only 55 calories and much more calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C and potassium than blueberries and raspberries.
7. Blueberries are higher in vitamin A then most berries.
8. Grapefruit is now effective in helping lower cholesterol; more so than any other pectin source.
9. Cherries are one of the most popular fruits and are grown in 20 countries worldwide. The United States grows approximately 150,000 tons of cherries annually.
10. Bananas are a type of berry from a tree classified as an herb tree, which can grow up to 30 feet high.
11. Human consumption of caffeine goes back nearly 3000 years, reportedly to an incident involving the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. As water was being boiled for drinking, leaves from a nearby tea bush accidently fell into the pot. The delightful aroma led the emperor to try a taste; thus, tea was discovered.
12. Papaya seeds are edible! The flavor is similar to that of pepper. They should be washed prior to eating and if you wish, you can dry them and grind them for seasoning.
13. The chemical bromelin in pineapple may help keep arteries clean.
14. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
15. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing just may go away.
16. Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces-no more stains.
17. To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
18. Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies in the pan-the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.
19. To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
20. Refrigerate unwashed fresh berries until ready to use.
21. Store berries away from moisture, meat and dairy products.
22. Rinse gently and drain well just before eating. Hull after washing.
23. Berries should be eaten as soon as possible. Berries that have softened a bit are perfect for baking, cooking or blended in beverages.
24. In a pear, most of the vitamin C is located in the skin.
25. Peaches ripen quickly by placing them in a box covered with newspaper which seals in gases.
26. To ripen a pineapple, cut off top, remove skin and slice. Place in a pot and cover with water, sweeten to taste, boil for five minutes, cool and refrigerate.
27. Don't throw out that leftover wine! Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
28. Since ancient times, avocados have been used as an ingredient in beauty potions and treatments.
29. Avocados are actually fruits, not vegetables.
30. Yellow Vegetables Could Protect From Vision Loss Yellow pigments found in yellow squash, corn, tangerines and persimmons, are also in high concentration in a "yellow spot" that registers central vision (the macular lutea in the retina in medical terms). The pigments are also found in in spinach, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, peas and rhubarb.
31. Two Kiwi's equal the amount of fiber in 1-cup of bran flakes.
32. Grapefruits were developed from crossing an orange with a shaddock. Shaddock's are not usually found in the supermarkets since they have almost no juice, a thick skin, sour taste and many seeds.
33. Care for some Lycopersicon lycopersicum on your salad? That's the scientific name for a tomato.
34. The American Indians cultivated strawberries in the 1600s.
35. Kiwifruit is named after New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi.
36. For lighter fritter batter, substitute an equal amount of club soda or beer instead of liquid called for.
37. Add a little chicken broth to fry fish instead of butter. It's less fattening.
38. Three to four medium shallot bulbs equals the flavor of one medium yellow onion.
39. They eat WHAT? Foreign Favorite Foods!
    In Australia, the aborigines eat lizards, turkeys and kangaroo.
40. In China, a favorite food is bird's nest soup made from the nest of Asian Swift.
41. In Africa a favorite is roasted camel stuffed with sheep that is stuffed with chicken that is stuffed with fish that is stuffed with eggs! Really!
42. From Times Past:
    Europe - Prehistoric man ate wild onions, squash, mushrooms, water lily seeds and raw bugs! Some of the bugs became extinct. (Wonder why!?)
43. Studies indicate that fish eaters are less likely to be depressed; scientists think the omega-3 fatty acids in fish might help the brain fight psychiatric illness.
44. There are three grades of canned, frozen and dried fruits and vegetables: U.S. Grade A (fancy). U.S. Grade B (choice or extra standard) and U.S. Grade C (standard). Grades B and C are just as nutritious but have more blemishes.
45. Sea vegetables are becoming a new food experience. They may be called "wakame" or "kombu" and they are derived from seaweed which is high in minerals.
46. The saying "living high on the hog" originated among army enlisted men who received shoulder and leg cuts while officers received the top loin cuts.
47. Have you ever noticed how quickly apples brown, once they've been cut? To avoid this, sprinkle the cut pieces with lemon, orange or grapefruit juice that's been diluted a bit with water.
48. Cloudy or crystallized honey? Put your jar of honey in a pan of warm water, stirring the honey until the crystals dissolve. The honey will also clear up as you stir it.
49. The key to a good stir-fry is have the pan/wok hot before adding the ingredients. Fry by stiring constantly, if using meat; if possible do not let it stew. Vegetables should be crisp and tender, it is imporant not to over-cook the vegetables used.
50. Block a fracture with figs? Chewy, moist, sweet figs have an added benefit - about 60mg (2-fig serving) of bone-building calcium! Two plump figs have 120 calories.
51. A little soda water added to your favourite fruit juice adds a bubbly sparkle and makes the fruit juice calories go further!
52. Sprinkle fruit-flavoured gelatin powder over vanilla pudding to give it a pretty look and added flavor!
53. Honey! It is delicious in tea or on an English muffin, but there are a few other useful things you can use it for.
54. Out of lip balm? Dab a little honey on your lips. Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it draws moisture from the air to your skin. And it tastes good!
55. Fight a cold with a hot toddy. Add 2-tablespoons brandy and 1-teaspoon honey to a cup of hot water and sip slowly. It's an old-fashioned remedy that still works today.
56. Honey has antibacterial properties, which means in a pinch, you can use it as a salve on minor burns.
57. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
58. To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove-top-skillet will be much easier to clean now.
59. To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the bite for instant relief.
60. Black pepper fixes nicks! Putting ground black pepper on a minor cut stops the bleeding quickly and does not contribute to scarring. Black pepper has analgesic, antibacterial and antiseptic properties. People have been using black pepper as medicine since the time of Hippocrates. Oh - it does not sting, either!
61. The next time you nick your finger while slicing something, run it under cool water for a minute to remove any dirt. Be sure to use soap if you are handling any meat or unwashed vegetables. Sprinkle on some black pepper and apply a little pressure to the wound with a clean finger.
62. Home remedies are only appropriate for minor cuts. Large or deep wounds require a doctor's attention. See your doctor if there are any signs of infection or if your tetanus shot needs to be updated. Signs of infection include increasing tenderness, the appearance of pus, or a streak of redness going away from the wound.
63. Egg shells can be used to clean glass bottles: Break the shells into pieces, drop them into the bottle with a few drops of detergent and a bit of water, and shake vigorously. Then rinse with water.
64. Don't panic if your soup's too salty: Add cut raw potatoes and throw them away once they are cooked and have absorbed the salt. Your soup's saved!
65. Alka Seltzer - Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer: Clean a toilet! Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
66. Wine tip: If you don't have time to cool your white or red wines before serving, add two or three frozen grapes in your glass. (White grapes for white wine and red grapes for red wine). This will cool your wine and give you a treat as a bonus.
67. Keep the linings from cereal boxes~they make great substitutes for waxed paper!
68. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. This should help the throbbing.
69. Instead of throwing away bread heels or leftover cornbread, use them to make bread crumbs. For use later, store them in the freezer.
70. Transfer your jelly to a small plastic squeeze bottle -- no more messy, sticky jars or knives! This also works well for homemade salad dressing!
71. To aid in washing dishes, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your soapy water -- it softens hands while cutting through grease!
72. Sinus's stuffed up? Try taking oil of oregano in capsule or oil form; it can help get rid of congestion and some experts say it may even help kill the bacteria that causes sinus infections. This is due to a component in oil of oregano called carvacrol that kills germs as effectively as antibiotics.
73. Slicing meat when partially frozen makes it easier to get thin slices.
74. Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator~it will keep for weeks! If it gets limp, soak it in ice water for 1/2 hour.
75. The chemical, solanine, is believed to aid in arthritis pain. Food containing high amounts of solanine are green potatoes, tomatoes, red and green peppers, eggplant and paprika.
76. Another food category - "Fruit-Vegetables", includes eggplant, squash, peppers and tomatoes. These are all the seed-bearing bodies of the plants they grow on.
77. Wash all fruits and vegetables in cold water, but never store them in water. If you do they will lose a large percentage of their nutrients.
78. Orange juice will lose more vitamin C content when stored in an open container or one with a plastic lid. Always store in a glass container with a screw cap.
79. Peel kiwi fruit with a vegetable peeler for less waste. Kiwi tidbits: Kiwi may be used to tenderize meat, is low in calories and an excellent source of vitamin C. Two kiwi's equal the fiber in 1-cup of bran flakes. Kiwi is sometimes called a Chinese gooseberry, but is not related to the gooseberry.
80. Europeans enjoy a chilled cherry soup as a summertime treat.
81. Canned pumpkin is one of the best sources of beta carotene - it has approximately 27,000IU in a 40 calorie, 8-ounce serving and is available year-round!
82. Two of the most nutritious fruits are papaya and cantaloupe.
83. Coconut water found inside a coconut is almost fat free and high in vitamin E.
84. Empty ketchup or mustard containers are great for decorating cakes or cookies.
85. Grapes can provide anti-aging protection by guarding against free radicals. Grapes contain polyphenols, natural antioxidants with anti-aging benefits. Grapes are an ingredient in some beauty products now such as Lancome Vinefit Cool Gel (25 dollars).
86. Honey is a natural numectant, which makes it the perfect ingredient to help dry patches, but may be too rich for acne- prone skin. Honey is often used as an ingredient in beauty products.
87. The tangerine can exfoliate skin. The citrus ingredients in tangerines help leave skin soft.
88. Papaya can dissolve pore-blocking debris. Papaya contains an ingredient called papain, an exfoliant that helps slough dead skin. (Not for use on sensitive skin).
89. The antioxidants in strawberries may help even out a splotchy complexion.
90. Olive oil is often used in moisturizers, but is is best to use products containing olive oil only on arms and legs as they may clog facial pores.
91. To keep your fruits and vegetables from turning brown, just brush on some lemon.
92. Got a stain on your white linen? Dab it with lemon juice and then hang the linen in the sun.
93. The price of potatoes often increases as their size increases. Try using six medium baking potatoes instead of three large ones to save some money.
94. All brown sugar is granulated sugar with molasses added. The darker the sugar, the more molasses and the stronger the flavor.
95. Rub rosemary oil on temples to relieve headaches. Also use as a great jet-lag remedy.
96. According to the UDSA, leftovers and other prepared, perishable food can generaly be kept refrigerated for three to five days. If you have any doubts about the safety of a leftover, toss it.
97. Lemon-Aid: Sixteenth century Portuguese explorers planted lemon groves on islands and coasts along sea routes so that subsequent voyagers could have a regular supply of vitamin C.