Winter Squash Is a Versatile Fall Food

Winter squash varieties, like Butternut squash, are available in the fall and winter and they’re an excellent addition to a healthy diet. For thousands of years, people have enjoyed eating squash, and many flavorful winter varieties were development from wild, unpalatable squashes found in Guatemala and Mexico. One of the benefits of winter squash is that it can be stored much longer than summer varieties. In fact, depending on the specific type of squash, it could keep months in your pantry. To maximize shelf life, make sure you purchase winter squash without soft spots.

Butternut squash and other varieties of winter squash need to be seeded. While many people do this before cooking the squash, you can simply scoop out the seeds after cooking if you roast the squash whole. Since butternut squash has a very unique shape, you’ll need to cut off the neck and then cut the squash in half so you can scoop out all the seeds. However, don’t throw those seeds away. Save them and prepare them like pumpkin seeds. They make a delicious, healthy snack food.

When you eat butternut squash, you get a powerful dose of important nutrients. Butternut squash is packed with potassium. In fact, it packs in more potassium than bananas do. A single cup of this squash offers you plenty of vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium, vitamin E, niacin, manganese, folate, and more. Winter squash is also packed with fiber, which keeps you feeling full. 

The great news is that it’s easy to incorporate winter squash into your healthy meals. Simply bake it up like a sweet potato with a dash of vanilla and a sprinkle of brown sugar. Mash it up and eat it like you would mashed potatoes. Add to a favorite soup for extra fiber content. Mince up winter squash and add to spaghetti sauce for a delicious twist.