Picky Eaters Love Pineapple and Our Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies Have Plenty
At Baked Smart Cookie, we take great pride in delivering exceptional healthy snacks for you and your little ones. Our one-of-a-kind cookies are made from a variety of vegetables and fruits, including pineapple!
Full of vitamin C, antioxidants, and critical nutrients, pineapples are a delightful fruit that offer just the right blend of sweet and tangy. But have you ever wondered what makes pineapples so amazing and scrumptious? Well, let the good folks at Baked Smart Cookie take you on a little journey into the world of this tropical treat.
Originating along the southern border of Brazil and Paraguay, pineapple would eventually grow all throughout South America and into Mexico, where it was cultivated by the Mayas and Aztecs between 200 BCE and 700 AD. The crop was a staple of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas well into the late 1400s when Christopher Columbus found the fruit growing in the West Indies.
It’s believed that the Portuguese were the first to spread the fruit globally, when they carried it into Africa and then into India by 1550. By the end of the 16th century, pineapple was grown across the tropical areas of the world and even spread into Europe during the 1700s and 1800s.
The fruit would come to be associated with Hawaii when famous investor James Dole moved to the island and started a pineapple plantation, which would eventually develop into the well-known Dole Food Company.
Today, the Philippines remain one of the top exporters of pineapples across the globe.
For starters, pineapples definitely have a tropical aroma and texture to them. The fruit is incredibly sweet, blending the tang of citrus and savor of an apple. The fruit is generally firm when bitten into, almost offering a meaty texture.
When deciding on a pineapple at the grocery store, go with fruit that is still relatively green if you aren’t planning on eating it immediately. After a couple of days, the fruit will begin to develop a yellowish tint. A well-ripened pineapple will be a tiny bit firm under pressure.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, one serving size of pineapple provides:
Aside from being loaded with a huge variety of nutrients, pineapples also provide plenty of health benefits including:
Full of vitamin C, antioxidants, and critical nutrients, pineapples are a delightful fruit that offer just the right blend of sweet and tangy. But have you ever wondered what makes pineapples so amazing and scrumptious? Well, let the good folks at Baked Smart Cookie take you on a little journey into the world of this tropical treat.
The Peculiar History of the Pineapple
A member of the bromeliad family, and the only one that produces an edible fruit, the pineapple is actually one large structure made of individual berries that grow around a central core.Originating along the southern border of Brazil and Paraguay, pineapple would eventually grow all throughout South America and into Mexico, where it was cultivated by the Mayas and Aztecs between 200 BCE and 700 AD. The crop was a staple of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas well into the late 1400s when Christopher Columbus found the fruit growing in the West Indies.
It’s believed that the Portuguese were the first to spread the fruit globally, when they carried it into Africa and then into India by 1550. By the end of the 16th century, pineapple was grown across the tropical areas of the world and even spread into Europe during the 1700s and 1800s.
The fruit would come to be associated with Hawaii when famous investor James Dole moved to the island and started a pineapple plantation, which would eventually develop into the well-known Dole Food Company.
Today, the Philippines remain one of the top exporters of pineapples across the globe.
The Perfect Blend of Sweet and Tangy
If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying pineapple, then let us provide you with a little description of its unbelievable taste.For starters, pineapples definitely have a tropical aroma and texture to them. The fruit is incredibly sweet, blending the tang of citrus and savor of an apple. The fruit is generally firm when bitten into, almost offering a meaty texture.
When deciding on a pineapple at the grocery store, go with fruit that is still relatively green if you aren’t planning on eating it immediately. After a couple of days, the fruit will begin to develop a yellowish tint. A well-ripened pineapple will be a tiny bit firm under pressure.
The Nutritional and Health Benefits of Pineapple
Did you know that the nutritional and health benefits of pineapple are just as sweet as the fruit itself? That’s right. These tropical treats are a great addition to most diets, providing plenty of vitamin C, manganese, dietary fiber, bromelain, thiamin, and a B vitamin that aids in the production of energy.According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, one serving size of pineapple provides:
- 74 calories
- 0 grams of fat
- 0 mg of cholesterol
- 2 mg of sodium
- 206 mg of potassium
- 19.5 grams of carbohydrates
- 13.7 grams of sugars
- 1 gram of protein
- 28 mg of vitamin C
- 21 mg of calcium
Aside from being loaded with a huge variety of nutrients, pineapples also provide plenty of health benefits including:
- Pineapples are a great source of antioxidants, which help to potentially reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
- This tropical fruit contains plenty of bromelain, an enzyme that helps to break down proteins and aid in digestion.
- Pineapples offer compounds that help reduce inflammation and aid in the cell function of white blood cell function.
- Pineapples have anti-inflammatory properties that can help in boosting your immune system and ease the short-term symptoms of arthritis.
- The manganese found in pineapple supports the development of strong bones and connective tissue.
- Plenty of dietary fiber in the fruit will help keep you regular and your intestines healthy.
Sweet Facts About Pineapples!
- The word pineapple was first recorded in the English language in 1398.
- Pineapples can take up to three years to mature!
- Pineapple plants can live to be up to 50 years old.
- Pineapples are actually berries!
- You can grow pineapple by cutting off its top and planting it back into the soil.
- Pineapple plants can only grow one pineapple each season.
- There are 37 varieties of pineapple.
- Pineapple can get sunburned.
- SpongeBob SquarePants lives in a pineapple under the sea.
We Love Pineapple So Much, We Included It In Our Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe!
The perfect cookie for children who don’t like to eat their veggies and fruits, Baked Smart Cookie is a vegan, non-GMO, soy-free, peanut-free treat that you’re little ones are sure to crave. Our amazing cookies are made from a variety of fruits and vegetables - including pineapple - but are sure to be loved by all. Get your hands on a pack right now!
