“Be a pineapple, stand tall, wear a crown, & be sweet on the inside.”
Without a doubt, pineapples are my very favorite fruit. You have to admit they are pretty cool – with their tough exterior and bright, sweet meat inside. Plus they always remind me of summer, which is by far the best season of the year.
Nutritional Benefits of Pineapple:
Pineapple is a great source of Vitamin C, is fat-free and low in sodium. When we think of pineapple we typically think of bromelain. Bromelain is just a mixture of enzymes found within the pineapple plant. This enzyme can act as a meat tenderizer making pineapple the perfect addition when you are cooking meats like ham. Some people also take bromelain as a dietary supplement due to research showing it is effective in reducing symptoms of acute nasal and sinus inflammation (i.e. reducing the causes of your stuffy nose!) when used with traditional medications.
Growing Pineapple:
So my mom calls pineapple a garbage food because you can grow a pineapple by the part you would typically throw away – in this case the crown of the pineapple.
Step 1: Chop off its head! Cut the pineapple about 1/2 inch from the top.
Step 2: Separate the top and bottom portions of the pineapple. The top will be used to grow a new pineapple!
Step 3: Take a photo with your pineapple – because gardening is fun!
Step 4: Pull off some of the lower leaves to expose the root.
Step 5: Let the roots dry out. There is some debate online about how long they should dry but my plan is to let the roots dry out for 1 day before planting.
Step 6: Take a break to enjoy your fresh cut pineapple!
So currently the top of my pineapple is sitting in the kitchen drying out a bit. My plan is to plant it in a large pot with planters soil in the next day or two and update you on the progress. Until then – happy planting and eating!
~The Gardening Dietitian