20 Fun Facts About Food You Need to Know

Food is crucial for our survival. But does this purpose define the term well? Surely not! It is an amalgamation of emotions, from those joyful hangouts with friends to those timeless candlelight dinners with loved ones. From those happy lollypop moments to those cheerful family dinners, it accompanies us everywhere. 

Have you ever tried exploring food in true meaning? We aren't talking about the tastes but the countless facts that this term holds. If not, we have got some fun facts listed for you below. Let's dive in to begin the journey of exploring food from different yet exciting aspects!

Dark Chocolate is Far More Than Just a Mid-Night Craving!

Dark chocolate, loved by 49% of adult Aussies, is made from roasted cocoa beans. According to a Harvard study, it can be beneficial for overall well-being. The study results also revealed that people with high intakes of cocoa have a reduced risk of developing heart diseases, diabetes, and cancer. 

It also helps lower blood pressure, regulate bad cholesterol levels, and improve vision and memory. Research has supported the positive impact of dark chocolate on the brain. It boosts memorizing power and improves reaction time. 

Do you know: Eating dark chocolate when studying can help you perform well. 

Pistachios Aren’t Nuts at All!

Let's face it, we all consider pistachios to be nuts, but these are actually fruit seeds. They belong to the family of drupes, with cherries, peaches, and olives as prominent members. However, like nuts, these feature a significant portion of protein, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and other essential nutrients. Together all these help with weight management, improved digestion, and protection against hypertension and diabetes. 

Furthermore, pistachios are loaded with omega-3 fatty acid that regulates blood pressure and eliminates the risk of heart disease. 

Broccoli, Almonds, and Chickpeas Offers More Protein than Steak

Are you on a vegan diet worrying about your protein intake? Let’s debunk the myth that vegan food doesn’t offer the required portion of proteins. According to research by vegan experts, chickpeas and almonds can offer more proteins, whereas broccoli offers even more than it. With these vegan options, you can skip that trans-fat or cholesterol, lowering the risk of developing heart diseases. These are much better vegan alternatives to those fatty meals. 

Do you know:  A 100g steak contains 25g of protein; however, the same amount of chickpeas boasts 21g, and almonds feature 28g.

SPAM is an Abbreviation for Spiced Ham

SPAM – Not the unrequested mail you get but the commonly used canned lunch meat product. Have you ever thought what's so special about it? It's just the short form of Spiced Ham! The secret of this canned pork deliciousness lies in the amalgamation of six ingredients. These include pork, water, sodium nitrate, sugar, salt, and potato starch. 

French Fried Aren't French, and Hot Dogs Aren't Americans 

Americans consume 20 billion hot dogs annually, according to The Council. It's the most-eaten dish, especially during baseball games. To your surprise, around 18.5 billion hot dogs were eaten back in the 2015 Major League Baseball season! Just wow! Still, the fact remains that this beloved dish hasn't originated in America. It finds its roots in Frankfurt, Germany, or Vienna, Austria. 

Moreover, French fries, the forever-fav side dish for every junk food, is not a French invention. You read it right; it originated in Belgium, where ancestors used to fry potatoes in oil. It dates back to the late 1600s.

Nectarines Translate as “As Sweet as Nectar”

On an interesting note, nectarines mean as sweet as nectar, and they surely reflect the meaning. Several studies support that nectarine-like peaches originated in China around 2000 years ago. However, those were introduced to England and the rest of the world in the late 16th or early 17th centuries. 

Nectarines are loaded with the goodness of antioxidants, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A. These help improve heart health, strengthen the immune system, support longevity, and lower blood pressure.

Apple Gives More Energy than Coffee

They say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” If that’s not tempting enough to incorporate this fruit into your life, consider the fact that an apple is more empowering than a cup of coffee. This energy comes from sugar, not the caffeine. So, the next time you go out to buy a cup of coffee to refresh yourself, consider eating an apple instead and notice the changes yourself. Apple also aids in weight loss, supports gut health, and reduces the risk of heart disease.

Caesar Salad isn't an Italian Dish

Do you think of Caesar salad as an Italian dish? It’s actually not! Caeser Salad originated in the Mexican city of Tijuana back in 1927. A restaurant chef, Caesar Cardini, ran out of food and planned to serve something different to his guest for the 4th July celebrations. Grabbing all that he was left with, he ended up making a historical salad, which later got famous with his name. 

Another interesting fact is that the original Caeser Salad dressing is supposed to be vinaigrette. It gives the salad its iconic yellowish hue.

Avocados Are Fruits

Though we have been treating avocados as vegetables, biologically, these are fruits. Avocados are rich in nutrients, with healthy unsaturated fats, vitamins (C, E, K, and B-6), minerals, antioxidants, and fibers as prominent names on the nutrient breakdown. 

Another fun fact is that Australia's first avocado was planted in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens. The fruit is commonly called alligator pear in Spain and Mexico, owing to its alligator resembling the outer layer. However, it's more commonly known as butter pears in China and India. 

Oreos Are Vegan

Well, this one is specifically for our vegan buddies! Let us tell you that the super-hyped snack, Oreo, can be well-fit with soy or almond milk and even oat. Didn't you get that? Oreo doesn't contain any sort of milk products or eggs, being vegan in nature. It can be your quick source of carbohydrates, helping you keep the hunger away. However, keep your portion of Oreo limited, as these are enriched with fatty and surgical components.

Peanut Butter Doesn’t Account as Junk Food

No doubt peanut butter contains junk food components like hydrogenated oils and unhealthy trans fats. But it doesn't entirely account for junk food. It can also lower blood cholesterol, prevent diabetes type 2 disease, and aids in weight loss. If you are a vegan, you can consider peanut butter a good option to make up for your protein intake. 

Do you know:  Peanut butter glows in the dark after exposure to intense light? Moreover, it can be used for making diamonds. Though the process is demanding, its feasibility is itself an interesting fact.

Hawaiian Pizza and Californian Rolls Originated in Canada

It's a common misconception that most junk foods, like buffalo wings, originated in America. But that's not actually true, as Hawaiian Pizza and Californian Rolls are also not Americans but Canadians. Hawaiian Pizza was an experiment by the Greek-Canadian Sam Panopoulos. According to Time Magazine, Pizza got its name from the pineapple brand the chef used. 

On the other hand, the utterly popular, Californian rolls, aka sushi rolls, were made for the first time in Vancouver, British Columbia. Have you ever googled for the creator of golden roll, spider roll, rainbow roll, or BC roll? Sushi rolls are created by the same talented chef - Hidekazu Tojo.

Making Jelly Beans is Not a Piece of Cake

Do you love munching on jelly beans? Let’s have a look at some of the most interesting fun facts about these sweet creations!

• The making process of jelly beans can take up to seven to twelve days. 
• Turkey is supposed to be the origin of Jelly beans. 
• Originally, jelly beans were a Christmas tradition. 
• The most popular flavor of Jelly Beans used to be Very Cherry until 1998, after which Buttered Popcorn replaced it. 
• Jelly beans were the fav candies of President Reagan.

Cucumber Has More Water than Watermelon

Cucumbers contain around 96% water, whereas watermelon features 92%. The former is also low in calories; one serving includes just eight per serving. So, if you are on a calorie-deficit diet, you can incorporate these into your diet. Besides this, cucumbers can help reduce blood pressure in seniors with hypertension. 

Interestingly, the outer waxy coating of cucumber can help erase pen writing. So, if you ever made a mistake when writing and have a cucumber nearby, you can experiment with the fact! 

Bananas, Pumpkins, and Lemon Are Berries, but Raspberries Aren't

Here comes the most confusing of all facts! Bananas, pumpkins, and lemons are considered berries by botanists, but raspberries are a member of the rose family. Yup, you read it right! Though raspberry flowers are simpler with just a five-petal configuration, the roses are a bit complex. Still, they have a plethora of thrones, just like roses. 

Moreover, botanists categorize all those fruits as berries, which develop from the ovary and have three layers, the skin, the flesh, and the seed. Though we normally eat the flesh of these berries, sometimes we can eat the skin as lemon zest, and sometimes we can eat the seed as pumpkin seeds.

Sandwiches Have an Interesting Story

Let’s unveil the interesting story behind the creation of sandwiches! These forever-fav snacks were born for a gambler, John Montagu. He was on a 24-hour streak and wanted to eat something without putting the cards on the table, creating handy sandwiches!

Another interesting fact is that an astronaut smuggled a sandwich into his spacecraft on a six-hour mission. John Young’s love for corned beef sandwiches was worth appreciable, indeed. Are you wondering why he smuggled them instead of taking them along? 

Sandwiches aren't preferred in zero gravity, where their debris can cause damage to the shuttle. However, no such damage was observed, but NASA has taken special measures to stop the smuggling of sandwiches.

Coriander May Taste Like Soap…. Culprits are Your Genes

Have you ever eaten coriander and felt like eating soap? No, that's not your fault but of your genes. According to News Medical, coriander features aldehyde compounds in lotions, detergents, and soaps. Also, most coriander haters are believed to have OR6A2 genes – special olfactory receptors group. This makes them capable of recognizing the odor of aldehydic compounds in soaps and coriander. 

Stickers on Fruits are Edible

Stickers on fruits like mangoes and kiwis sometimes are very irritating. But on an interesting note, these stickers are mostly edible, so there's no need to freak out if you have accidentally swallowed them. However, it surely doesn’t mean to be ok with eating them. 

Pound Cakes don't Weight a Pound

Pound cakes don't mean they weigh a pound as a whole. As roughly half a kilogram is the right weight for these cakes, the name has nothing to do with the weight. Then what's the mystery behind it? Back when the cake was invented, a pound of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour was mixed up to make it.

Farm-Raised Salmons are Dyed Pink

The signature bright pink flesh of the wild salmon comes from the krill and algae in its diet, but those typical farm-raised salmon don't have such a diet. However, these are a bit whitish-grey in color, so they have to use food color to give them that signature look. 

Wrapping It Up!

That was all about the 20 interesting and fun food facts we assure you didn’t know about. From raspberries being a rose family member and stickers of fruits being edible to cucumber having more water content than watermelon and more, we have compiled a plethora of informative content to expand your knowledge. Hope you found the info worth reading. Stay tuned for more of such interesting articles! Till then, happy eating!