Food Facts for Kids
Tasty facts about the food we eat
Walnuts are the only nut that contains a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Just a small handful provides more omega-3s than most other plant foods.
Figs are actually hollow flowers, and they are pollinated by tiny wasps that crawl inside. The wasp breaks down completely inside the fig, so what you eat contains a little dissolved wasp protein.
Every strand of corn silk on a corn cob is connected to exactly one kernel. If you count the silks, you know exactly how many kernels are on that ear of corn.
Peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and almonds all belong to the same plant genus, Prunus. That means almonds and peaches are basically cousins.
Potato chips were invented in 1853 by chef George Crum in New York. A customer kept sending back his fried potatoes saying they were too thick, so Crum sliced them paper-thin to be annoying — and accidentally created one of the world's most popular snacks.
Authentic Italian mozzarella is made from water buffalo milk, not cow's milk. Water buffaloes have been raised in southern Italy for over a thousand years specifically for their rich, creamy milk.
Apricot kernels — the seeds inside the stone — contain a compound called amygdalin, which the body converts into cyanide. Eating large amounts can be dangerous, even though the flesh of the fruit is completely safe.
The oldest noodles ever found were discovered in China and are about 4,000 years old. They were made from millet and were still in the bowl when archaeologists uncovered them.
Red cabbage turns blue or grey when cooked because heat destroys its pigment. Adding a splash of vinegar or lemon juice keeps it a vibrant purple-red colour.
Chocolate chip cookies were invented in 1938 by Ruth Wakefield, who added chopped chocolate to her cookie dough expecting it to melt. Instead, the chunks held their shape — and a classic was born.