Pumpkin Packs a Powerful Nutritious Punch

Fall is officially here. And with it comes cooler weather, shorter days and fall foods. One food that comes to mind for most people is pumpkin – pumpkins are everywhere, from Halloween displays, pumpkin laced coffee drinks, pumpkin muffins and most people’s Thanksgiving favorite…pumpkin pie.

Fall and Pumpkins photo by Carole Jakucs. 10/31/16
Image subject to copyright.

While some pumpkin laced and based foods can be loaded with fat and sugar, there are plenty of recipes on the internet -  from pumpkin muffins to breads and more, that are made with unsweetened applesauce and whole wheat flour. Pumpkin even makes for a delicious base for a tasty soup.

And guess what – pumpkin is healthy when not paired up with sugar, fat and white flour. Pumpkin is filled with good-for-you nutrients. And most abundant is Vitamin A.  Vitamin A is essential for human health. Among its many functions - it supports our immune system, eyes and vision.

So…go for it! Just remember to reduce the sugar and fat that sometimes accompany pumpkin recipes and replace them with healthy alternatives as above for a delicious fall treat.  

Healthier Holiday Desserts

Slice up some fresh apples and sprinkle with cinnamon.  Bake to the desired texture/softness.  This is great dessert that provides fiber and other nutrients and does not need any added sugar.  The natural sugar from the apples gives it plenty of sweetness. This is also great as a side dish to pair up with lean pork loin.(Start with 20 minutes at 350 degrees, you can add more time if needed, depending on your taste and oven).

Cut the sugar by half in your favorite pie recipes. This can be done with many recipes without noticing any change in the taste or texture.  By doing this you’ll reduce the number of calories and lower the glycemic index of each serving.

Go for fresh homemade fruit and vegetable pies such as blueberry, apple, peach, pumpkin and sweet potato.  These contain vitamins and nutrients and, if you cut down on the sugar in the recipes (as above), it will help even more.

Cookies: Homemade oatmeal cookies are delicious. Make them from the “5 minute” type of oatmeal to reap more fiber benefits.

Cut the white flour by 25 – 50 % and replace with whole wheat flour in some of your cookie recipes to add more fiber while maintaining their great taste.

Use Canola oil or light olive oil, (which are healthier fats) in many of your favorite dessert recipes, instead of shortening or stick margarine, which contain trans fatty acids which are unhealthy for your heart, brain and vascular system. Canola oil won’t change the taste, however, depending on the recipe, you may need to experiment regarding the consistency of the final product when using these oils.

If you like quick-breads and cakes:  Opt for pumpkin, carrot,  zucchini and apple recipes, which provide some vitamins, nutrients and fiber, and are all healthier alternatives to a plain old butter and white flour pound cake.  Cut the sugar and tweak the white flour totals with some whole wheat flour and it will help even more.