Pumpkins aren’t just for making Jack O’lanterns, they also make great additions to recipes whether you are cooking or baking. Pumpkins, a type winter squash, not only taste great in recipes but they are also packed with nutritional value and low in calories. In fact, ½ cup of cooked pumpkin meat only has about 25 calories and ½ cup pumpkin puree has less than 50 calories. It is a good source of fiber and is loaded with Beta Carotene which is an antioxidant that can be converted to Vitamin A in the body. Beta Carotene and Vitamin A help prevent certain types of cancers, improve the immune system, promote good vision, are good for the skin and have many other benefits. In addition to beta carotene, pumpkins also provide many other nutrients such as Potassium, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, B- Vitamins, Phosphourous, Manganese, Iron, Zinc.
For more nutrition facts on pumpkins, click here.
While many people shy away from cooking with pumpkin because they believe it is difficult and requires a lot of work, this is a misconception. Cooking with pumpkin can actually be quite simple, and you can always use Libby’s Canned Pumpkin Puree if you want to make things even easier. To learn how to cook with pumpkin, click here.
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