Linwood students enjoying chayote sticks at lunch

On May 5th, Chayote was served along with our traditional Cinco de Mayo menu of Mexican Pinto Beans and Rice. Clues to this new vegetable were posted in the cafeteria the week before it was served.

• It’s native to Central America and was a popular vegetable with the Mayans and Aztecs.
• It’s also known as chocho, mirliton and christophene.
• It looks like a very large, green pear.
• It’s related to cucumbers, melons and squash.
• It grows on a vine and has one large edible seed.

Want to enjoy chayote at home? It can be found in the produce section of many large supermarkets or in Latino grocery stores. Be sure to choose a chayote that is smooth and firm. Whole chayote will keep refrigerated for several days but it is best to use chopped chayote immediately.