While we boast pumpkin as the mainstream fall vegetable, pumpkin is actually considered a winter squash. And although pumpkin flavoring is all the craze everywhere you turn in the autumn season, ditch the fake flavoring treats for the real thing. Pumpkin is full of vitamin A, which makes it beneficial for eye health, and comes with 3 grams of fiber per ½ cup serving. One cup of canned pumpkin comes with seven grams of fiber, which is more than what you’d get eating two slices of whole grain bread. You’ll also find a healthy dose of potassium in each serving. Plus, though pumpkin and its fiber may be filling, it’s also pretty low in calories, as pumpkin is nearly 90 percent water.
It’s important to note that the pumpkins you carve are not the same type you eat.
Use low-sodium, no sugar added pumpkin puree when cooking or baking pumpkin-flavored dishes, including:
- Pumpkin bread
- Pancakes
- Oatmeal
- Smoothies
- Macaroni and cheese
- Hummus
*References: Eatright.org, WebMD