The Popular Fibrous Fruit Giada De Laurentiis Refuses To Eat

You might have heard of Giada De Laurentiis' balanced approach to cooking and her ability to make Italian cuisine accessible for most home cooks. However, you might be surprised that the celebrity chef is also a bit picky when it comes to the food she eats. In fact, she has 11 foods she avoids at all costs — all of them are processed and unhealthy. But even some food items with a healthy profile are not safe from her discriminating palate. Case in point is the popular vegetable she despises the most: bell pepper. If you think that's just about it, you'd be stunned to know that Giada's also not a big fan of coconut, particularly the fruit's flesh.

In an interview with Bravo, she got asked about the one food she absolutely cannot stand, and here's what she had to say: "I don't eat coconut. I don't like anything with coconut. Not [coconut] water. Just no coconut — at all. In anything." Many people like the tropical fruit's flesh because it adds texture and flavor to desserts, savory dishes, and refreshing drinks, whether raw, shredded, juiced, or blended into mushy concoctions. As such, De Laurentiis' aversion to the coconut flesh may come as a surprise to fans who have seen her embrace and use more unconventional ingredients in her cooking — remember her chocolate pasta recipe?

While Giada De Laurentiis may not enjoy coconut, the fruit is rich in nutrients that are healthy for the body. The flesh of the coconut, which can be eaten in flakes or shreds, is packed with dietary fiber, which promotes good digestion. It also makes the body feel full fast, so it helps regulate appetite and prevents overeating. By avoiding it, the celebrity chef is missing out on one of the safest and most organic ways to achieve a healthy gut.

Coconut also contains medium-chain triglycerides, a type of fat that the body can easily convert into energy. This is why the fruit is a favorite among athletes and the health-conscious community. Additionally, coconut flesh is a good source of manganese, which is good for bone and enzyme function, as well as copper, which is needed for red blood cell production and immune health. Other nutrients found in coconut are iron, selenium, and phosphorus. All of these play roles in energy metabolism and overall wellness. 

All that said, while Giada may fail to take advantage of the nutritious profile of coconut meat due to her aversion to it, she can still obtain all these nutrients from other food sources. After all, her culinary repertoire includes a variety of meat-based, vegetarian, and vegan dishes.