Pumpkins are more than just pie filler and harbingers of Halloween. They’re rich in fiber and Vitamin A, and their seeds are nutritious as well. Learn some fun facts about this versatile food, along with healthful ways to enjoy it.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Pumpkins – those grinning harbingers of Halloween – are actually a type of squash.
They were likely first cultivated in Central America thousands of years ago.
Pumpkins were a food source for Native Americans, who found uses for every part of the gourd…
From weaving mats out of dried strips of rind to using the seeds as medicine.
Today we eat pumpkin seeds as snacks or put them in salads.
They’re a good source of protein and healthy fats as well as vitamin e, iron, and zinc.
You might find them dried or roasted and labeled “pepitas” – which means “little seed” in Spanish.
Pumpkins themselves are rich in vitamin a. In fact a cup has more than twice the daily requirement.
Pumpkins are also high in fiber and an antioxidant called lutein (loo te in), which may help protect your eyes.
Did you know that pumpkins come in colors other than orange… including green, white, and red?
They also vary in size … from mini pumpkins … to flat-shaped Cinderella pumpkins… to giant pumpkins that can weigh as much as a small car.
Though pies are the best-known use for pumpkin, there are plenty of healthy ways to eat it.
Like mashed pumpkin instead of mashed potatoes.
Or as an ingredient in soups… dips… or smoothies.
Canned pumpkin is just as healthy as fresh. In fact it’s even more nutritious. Just be sure it’s pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling, which is high in sugar.
However you cut it, pumpkin is a versatile food.
With the help of a fairy godmother, it can even be turned into a chariot.