Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Isaiah. Isaiah Wonders, “Why do monkeys eat bananas?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Isaiah!
They're yellow. They're tasty. You can pretend they're ray guns or telephones. Monkeys love them. What are we talking about? Bananas, of course!
But you don't have to be a monkey to love bananas. Children and adults alike crave this sweet yellow fruit. Whether you like to peel a banana and eat it fresh or you prefer a banana split with ice cream and other toppings, these tempting treats will tickle your taste buds.
Monkeys probably don't know much about nutrition, but they know they love bananas. Why? It's probably because bananas tend to grow in the hot, tropical areas where monkeys usually live. They're a convenient source of food that provides a lot of nutrients in a small package. The type of banana that monkeys get in the wild, however, are not the same as those from the local store. Supermarket bananas are sweeter than those found in the wild.
If you're an active kid, a banana can give you a quick dose of natural energy to keep your body going. Bananas are one of the few foods that contain all six of the major vitamin groups. In fact, bananas are a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and an important nutrient called potassium.
Many people believe that bananas grow on trees. In reality, though, bananas grow on giant plants that can reach up to 30 feet tall. When they're picked, bananas are green. They continue to ripen after being picked, and they're usually mostly yellow by the time they get to your local grocery store.
The word “banana" comes from the Arab word “banan," which means fingertip. This makes sense, since a single banana is called a finger! A whole bunch of bananas together is called a hand.
Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world. The average American eats over 25 pounds of bananas every year.
Bananas are good for more than just food, though. Did you know that banana peels contain one of the best lubricants in the world? It's true! You can use the inside of a banana peel to polish patent leather shoes.
