6/29/05 | Sunflower Seeds
[ Currently Eating: Derek Jeter's Sunflower Seeds ]
At my last job, a bunch of us went through a huge and relatively time consuming phase of eating sunflower seeds on the job. Luckily, we weren’t in customer service because unshelled sunflower seeds can make a huge mess. But we definitely watched each other’s backs by noting when someone had a stray bit of seed in between some teeth or a shell in their hair or clothes (more common than you might think).
I don’t buy sunflower seeds regularly any more, but once in awhile I still pick them up in the store when on sale. This latest bag I got is a pretty ubiquitous brand called David (ConAgra Foods makes them) that comes in a 5.25 ounce bag. I got it on sale for 60 cents which is not the cheapest, though this package usually goes for 99 cents.
But one thing with sunflower seeds is that you absolutely do not want to get STALE seeds. We learned this the hard way when a co-worker bought a gigantic bulk tub of sunflower seeds. It was about the size of one of those huge tubs of laundry detergent and would have been better if it tasted like detergent. Stale sunflower seeds are possibly the grossest thing you can eat.
These David Sunflower Seeds, however, were perfectly roasted and pretty delicious. I know a lot of people who refuse to take the time to eat the “in-shell” version. You can buy the salted, shelled version for pretty cheap too. But what’s the fun with that? I mean, if Derek Jeter is so happy with his sunflower seeds in the shell, then by gosh that is AOK with me. I don’t understand how his teeth can be that white after eating so many of them. Maybe he has one of those Teeth Wipes on one finger while he pops seeds in his mouth with the other hand. Pop, crack, brush, repeat…
My favorite thing about this package besides Jeter’s smirking pic on it is the tagline which is partly obscured in the photo above. Their slogan is “Eat. Spit. Be Happy.” Sounds like a recipe for success to me, except I wouldn’t want to be the one to clean up all the hawked loogies on the ground at company headquarters. Little kids must love this slogan. “See mom, it’s OK to spit!”
I actually like to make a little paper origami box to put the shells in while I’m eating and watching TV. Beats the mess of spitting in the trash can. Two things that any true sunflower seed eater will soon encounter is the occasional horrible rotten seed, and weird “pieces” of sunflower bark. The latter, I am not sure what it is except that it’s probably a part of the plant that snuck through quality control. I get about 5 or 6 per pack usually and they are about a quarter inch to 1 inch long. Not edible either, please trust me on that.
The “bad seeds” range from soft mushy ones to burnt seeds that are edible to completely gross ass tasting seeds that have been invaded by some sort of bug. I kid you not, if you crack it open you can see the hole or whatever where it’s been. Because of this, I go through my seeds pretty slowly; I usually put them in my mouth, enjoy some salt, crack them, take them out to inspect the seed a bit and then eat it if it’s ok. This takes a long time, but hey it makes the bag last longer!
Cheap Eats Score: 7/10
June 29th, 2005 at 7:43 am
I usually use the sunflower seeds in the shells when I have to stay awake, like on a long driving trip or something. That way, I can keep eating them for hours, because they take so long to eat. And, they’re involved, so they really do keep me awake. I usually just crack them with my teeth and then eat the seed, though. I never put the shells in my mouth. Too woody.
June 29th, 2005 at 10:02 am
Yeah, the seeds were good during finals. Actually, for me what determines how fast I can eat the bag is my salt tolerance. I don’t think it affects you because you don’t put the shell in your mouth. It’s a nice hit of salt so I do that. But after awhile it makes your tongue numb!
September 1st, 2005 at 9:03 am
I saw a guy eating seed shell and all are the shells edible. He called into work sick today. I’m wondering if it was because he ate the sunflower seed shell.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:28 am
josy - i think they are edible, in the sense that you COULD eat the shell. I used to do that a long time ago. But if you eat a whole bag like that prepare for some tickly business on the toilet…
October 21st, 2005 at 7:55 am
[URL Borked. I’m not giving that guy traffic since he certainly doesn’t deserve it.]
Please read. Please correct.
October 21st, 2005 at 10:09 am
donica - Well, I corrected it. Although, I need to completely disagree that it’s an “example of the oral transformation of language who don’t read much.” For all intents and purposes, It’s a mass colloquial transformation and the feeble literary police need to just live with it. I’m a pretty heavy reader myself. And anyhow, this is a BLOG not a term paper. It’s sort of like me correcting the billions of people who say “CAREEOKEE” when you can look at the word and clearly see that there’s no way it could be pronounced like that. That’s an example of the oral transformation of language by bumpkin hicks who should know better. Sorry, I just feel a bit snippy today!
November 7th, 2005 at 8:11 am
Does it hurt to eat the sunflower shells?
November 7th, 2005 at 9:32 am
terri - I don’t it hurts though don’t quote me on that. Um… I remember one time I ate a whole lot of them with the shell on and it certainly makes for an interesting time on the toilet! Extra fiber and all…
January 19th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
yeah they sure do it at your tongue and mouth after eating them for a long time
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:28 am
I eat seeds in spurts and usually when stressed or need to sit for a long time. So, i just had one of these spurts and probably went through one of those big bags and two or three smaller bags in…less than a week. I am not feeling so good today. I actually feel like I have the flu, but am curious if the sudden rise in fiber could make me so feel BAD? It’s been probably 30+ hours since I have had any and nearly 15 since I have been able to eat anything.
Blah!
March 14th, 2006 at 6:56 am
anita - yes, would end up often with “war scars” from sunflower seed eating…
angie - i think it’s maybe more that you feel bad because you haven’t been able to eat anything… rather than the seeds.
June 1st, 2006 at 1:17 pm
I’ve always eaten the shells whole and have never had a problem. If you chew them up well, I really don’t see how they could tax your digestive system all that much. After reading these posts though… I started to wonder. So far, I have not found any evidence that the shells are harmful in any way, but I’m still looking. Does anyone out there have any hard medical information on the subject?
Kevin
June 1st, 2006 at 5:41 pm
kevin - A lot of people eat the seeds and for the most part I think it’s fine if you don’t have stomach and digestive track ailments. I did come across something once when I was looking up Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis (sp?) I think it is when you have small pouches that bulge outward in your tract. then, i think they sometimes recommend not to eat tiny nuts (i saw sunflower seeds in there) because it can lodge in the little pockets. I would assume the same woudl go for the husks. I’m not a medical doctor though, so don’t quote me on this
September 13th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
I have a friend who ate a small bag of sunflower seeds, shells and all, and she had to go to ER the next day. She has not been able to use the toilet now for 3 days, she is in the hospital tonight and may need surgery on her colon tomorrow. DO NOT EAT SHELLS
October 21st, 2006 at 11:14 am
I love the bar b q ones those are my down rite favorite! Although the ranch are quite delectible as well. However, I’m not sure if its safe to eat the shell? Is it?
December 14th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
I’m 21 and have eaten the shells forever, still to this day and I have never been hurt by them in any kind of way. It takes me to long to break it and eat the seed so I just eat the whole thing and they taste great. I have been wondering if there is anything wrong with eating the shell so I guess I will ask my doctor tomorrow. The only thing bad about eating so many is it makes your tongue feel funny after awile!
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:08 am
I have been consuming mass quantities of seeds since I was about 8, lets just say over 30 years. Although it is not a daily thing when the mood strikes I will go through them tubs at a time until I physically can not shell anymore. I should have gotten salt poisoning (LOL) many times but thankfully the body says stop at a point. I admit to being half bird!! The point is too much of anything is bad!!
March 13th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
I’ve been on a sunflower kick for about a month now, I just can’t seem to stop.About two weeks ago I started getting this pain on my left side kinda like under my ribs and below, my mom said it’s from to many seeds,I’ve got the crack in my lip,raw tongue and can’t help my self I want more. Can they bother your insides or not, I don’t eat the shell!!
April 11th, 2007 at 9:20 am
I eat the occasional shell, so I can say that eating a few shells and all won’t kill you. Sunflower seeds are great for you, Lots of E
May 21st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Wow, this one cracks me up:
I have a friend who ate a small bag of sunflower seeds, shells and all, and she had to go to ER the next day. She has not been able to use the toilet now for 3 days, she is in the hospital tonight and may need surgery on her colon tomorrow. DO NOT EAT SHELLS
———-
This friend of mine one time was eating all these pumpkin seeds and at midnight she turned into a glass shoebox with slippers in it! To this day she has TWO SOULS!
June 8th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
at work me and my co-worker i call him D,go thru a big bag every 2 days can we get high blood pressure or sick from our sodium intake i surly hope not because were hooked, i love eating them at work it causes me to daydream.
June 24th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
i’ve been eatting sunflower seeds and now my bottom lip on the inside feels weird and it numb, what does
that mean? and what should i do?
July 5th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I love Fisher’s sunflower seeds more!
I eat them with the shell ALL THE TIME!
The only thing it does is give you prickly shits, not painful (so long as you chew the shells decently), just tickly. They’re nummy and really filling with the shells on.