Pumpkin: It's More than Just a Decoration or Pie Filling

Pumpkin Pile
Originally uploaded by Mexicanwave

I bet they're probably one or two pumpkins lurking around your house right now. They are THE decoration of the season afterall. We carve them, carry candy in fake ones, place them in our table centerpiece and dress our little ones like them. And last but certainly not least, we'll be eating a slice of pumpkin pie with a dollup of whipped cream when Thanksgiving rolls around.

Now, what if I told you that you pumpkin is actually a powerhouse food? Coming from the squash family, it stands out amongst the others. Why? According to national-bestselling book, SuperFoods, "pumpkin contains one of the richest supplies of bioavailable carotenoids known to man." Translation: They contain the biggest amount of compounds that protect us from a range of diseases (including breast and skin cancer), free radicals, damaging effects of UV rays on skin and eyes to name a few. I'm a fair-skinned redhead, so pumpkin is definitely my friend!

In an effort to incorporate more pumpkin in my diet, I've started to add some to my plain yogurt with a little cinnamon and topped with the pumpkin granola I spoke of in yesterday's post. Canned pumpkin makes it really easy to add to yogurt, oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, smoothie, bread, soup, etc. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves make pumpkin even better. We also love Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter to spread on toast, waffles, pancakes, biscuits, you name it. It's also a great veggie option for feeding your baby or toddler.

Eat your pumpkin today!!