Fall Food Spotlight: Health Benefits of Squash + 5 Recipes

The fall season is just around the corner with a new crop of seasonal foods. One of our favorites? Squash! Squash is a quintessential vegetable to be devoured this Autumn with a wide variety of types: butternut, acorn, spaghetti, summer, and pumpkin. We’ve got all the details on the health benefits of squash + 5 delectable recipes you will be eager to make!

Aside from being delicious, squash is also extremely nutritious and has many benefits for total body health. It is packed with a plethora of vitamins and minerals! Let’s take a peek at the health benefits of squash

Health Benefits of Squash

• Packed with fiber
• Contains immunity boosting Vitamin A and C 
• Has Omega-3 fatty acids which are an  anti-inflammatory aid
• Antioxidants like Beta-carotene for healthy eyes
• Minerals including: magnesium, iron,  zinc, and potassium which can help with bone health and blood circulation.

The Varieties + 5 Squashy Recipes

– Butternut squash is the most common variety of squash. Light tan or beige on the outside but bright orange on the inside, the bottleneck shaped squash tastes similar to a sweet potato, only nuttier. Cooking tip: you can add butternut squash to cheesy substitutions like cashew dip and cashew butternut mac and cheese.

– Acorn squash Acorns are sweeter than butternut and smaller, making them the perfect portion size for one person! This Vegan Acorn Alfredo Penne recipe is sure to fill you up on a cozy night in. The perfect comfort food!

– Spaghetti squash  has its name because when cooked, the flesh separates to resemble spaghetti noodles. The flavor is mild which makes it easy to pair with sauces. Again, you can use this squash for pasta recipes that can be completely carb free like our very own squash pasta recipe!

– Summer squash can be green, white, or yellow with a hook shaped neck. The skin on summer squash has thin edible skin with a high water content. One member of the summer squash  family is also zucchinis, and here at Balanced Babe we cook a lot with zucchinis! We found this summer squash soup recipe that will be sure to excite your taste buds. 

– Pumpkins (one of our FALL favorites) are also in the squash family! Pumpkins have come in all shapes, sizes, and colors but the most popular is the classic orange. The flesh and seeds inside can be eaten when cooked in your favorite way. Our favorite recipe of the day? This no bake chai pumpkin energy bar – YUM!

BONUS general squash cooking tip: Try preparing it by roasting the squash in the oven with your favorite spices or seasoning, pureeing it into a soup, or sauteing it in a pan for a quick and easy meal! 

Phew! Now we are inspired to be cooking pumpkin recipes all month long (like the majority of us Fall lovers), so share your favorite squash recipes and tips with us and let’s get this squash party started!