This Thanksgiving
season cozy up to the sweet comfort of winter squash. This family of nutrient
packed vegetables include pumpkin, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, and
butternut squash. These fall favorites provide numerous health benefits that
may help reduce various types of illness such as heart and respiratory disease,
cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Benefits are also found in the red, orange,
and yellow pigment of the skin where high levels of alpha- carotene and beta-
carotene convert to Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for vision health and can
help boost immune function. Winter squash is also packed with fiber which can
help keep blood sugar levels stable.
The best part is that
most winter squash varieties are naturally sweet which makes it a great food
for kids to try. You can bake, broil, or steam the vegetable to vary its
texture. The healthiest way to prepare winter squash is to peel the vegetable,
remove the seeds, cut the squash into cubes, and then steam them for about
seven minutes. If you don’t want to peel the vegetable, you can cut it in half
and poke the meat of the vegetable with a fork. Then throw it in the oven and
bake until tender. For a power packed holiday treat, try roasting butternut squash
with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Avey, Tori. “Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut
Squash – Vegan Recipe.” Tori Avey, 18 Nov. 2019,
https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/maple-cinnamon-roasted-butternut-squash/.
Collins, Karen. “The
Best Winter Foods for Kids.” EatRight, 13 Dec. 2018,
https://www.eatright.org/food/planning-and-prep/cooking-tips-and-trends/best-winter-foods-for-kids.
“Office of Dietary
Supplements – Vitamin A.” NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/#h7.
Swartzendruber, Kris. “Enjoy the Taste and
Health Benefits of Winter Squash.” MSU
Extension, Michigan State
University Extension, 2 Oct. 2018,
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/enjoy_the_taste_and_health_benefits_of_winter_squash.
