Done carving up that pumpkin? Don’t waste the flesh and seeds. Far from being just a Halloween decoration, this winter squash is packed with a whole host of health benefits. Not only that, but it’s tasty and filling – everything we’re looking for in our cold weather cooking.
READ MORE: How to make delicious, gooey pumpkin snack bars
So, in the name of getting all those vital nutrients (and avoiding food waste), we’ve rounded up a whole list of ways to cook it. For the very best advice on how to enjoy your pumpkin this autumn, check out Abbott Dietitian and Medical Nutrition Manager Laura Forwood’s top tips below:
1 Roast it
- Cut pumpkin into cubes and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg; both contain antioxidants which could have a positive impact on preventing disease and improving health
- Mix pumpkin with other root vegetables like butternut squash to increase vitamins and minerals as well as fibre and increase your daily vegetable intake
- Roast pumpkin seeds with your favourite seasonal spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or cloves – great tasting as well as good sources of antioxidants
2 Blend it
- Make a healthy smoothie with unsweetened almond milk, which is low in fat, pumpkin purée, banana, vanilla essence and ice
3 Purée it
- Roast pumpkin before puréeing it, adding stock or milk and seasoning to make a healthy soup. Soup can be quick, easy and affordable to make and is an easy way of adding vegetables into your diet. Made with semi-skimmed milk, pumpkin soup can be a low fat and filling option, because of its high fluid content and the fibre in the pumpkin
4 Bake it
- Add pumpkin purée to bread, pancakes or waffles for extra nutrients such as fibre and antioxidants
- Use as a substitute for butter or oil in brownies to reduce the fat content
5 Add it
- Throw toasted pumpkin seeds onto porridge, salads or sautéed green vegetables to provide minerals such as iron, zinc, copper and magnesium as well as extra protein for a nutrient-packed meal
- Have a handful as a healthy snack
What have you made with your leftover pumpkin? Tweet us or tag us on Facebook and Instagram – we love to hear from you!