Pumpkins are for Eating: Health Benefits, Tips and Recipes

Pumpkins = Halloween. Halloween has come and gone. We’re done with pumpkins for the year. Right…?

No way, we’re just getting started!

We all know pumpkins are great for carving, but don’t stop there! This seasonal squash makes a healthy and delicious addition to hearty soups and stews, risottos, pies, muffins, and even smoothies.

Health Benefits

Pumpkin is low in calories, but packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and disease-fighting antioxidants. A 1-cup serving of fresh pumpkin contains 49 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and over 200 percent of your daily value for vitamin A from beta carotene!

Beta-carotene is a plant carotenoid that is converted to vitamin A in the body, and has been shown to protect against heart disease, certain cancers, and some of the degenerative aspects of aging.

Pumpkin is also a great source of vitamins C and E, the B complex, and minerals like copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorus.

Pumpkin Recipes

Not sure what to do with that pumpkin sitting on your counter? We’ve got you covered! We have assembled quite a diverse collection of pumpkin recipes – including a couple of great breakfast recipes and entrées, plenty of bars and desserts, and an amazing body scrub! Give them a try and let us know what you think, or send us your favorite pumpkin recipe.

1. Pumpkin Bean Bars
2. Pumpkin-Coconut-Apple-Oatmeal Breakfast “Crumble”
3. Pumpkin Cheesecake With a Gingersnap Crust
4. Simplicity Chocolate Pumpkin Bars
5. Dark Chocolate-Pumpkin Pie
6. Miso Roasted Pumpkin and Grilled Tofu Over Udon Noodles
7. Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub
8. Yeasted Pumpkin Pancakes
9. Pumpkin Buttercream Icing
10. Gluten Free Pumpkin Mousse Tarts
11. Pumpkin Cheesy Shells Casserole with Broccolini

Hungry for more pumpkin fun? Watch as this 3-year-old makes vegan pumpkin cupcakes!

Image Credit: Kam’s World/Flickr