It’s that time of year when many of us buy pumpkins to make Halloween lanterns. Scarily, the flesh of more than 14 million pumpkins is expected to be left uneaten this year, according to environmental charity Hubbub. So, in support of the charity’s #PumpkinRescue campaign, the KBPT team has put together some nutritional advice and recipes to encourage you to eat your pumpkin!
Pumpkins are a superfood
Aside from tasting great, pumpkins are packed full of vitamins and minerals that have many health benefits.
Their orange colour comes from beta carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A. This is important for eye and skin health.
Fibre in pumpkins can aid digestion, help to lower cholesterol and make you feel full for longer.
They are a good source of vitamin C, which can boost your immune system and help you fight infection.
Pumpkins contain magnesium (which helps with muscle recovery) and potassium (which has benefits for your digestive system and blood pressure).
They are relatively low in calories as they consist mainly of water
Easy pumpkin recipes
Whether you’re throwing a Halloween party or cooking for yourself, there’s lots you can do with the flesh and seeds that you carve out from this seasonal squash.
Pumpkin houmous
This recipe brings a new twist to one of our favourite dips. After roasting the pumpkin flesh with some garlic and olive oil, put it in your food processor along with lemon juice, tahini paste and chickpeas. Find the full recipe on the BBC Good Food website.
Spiced pumpkin soup
What could be better than a bowl of soup on a chilly October day? Simply roast the pumpkin flesh with garlic, spices and herbs until it’s caramelised then add vegetable stock and coconut cream and whizz until smooth. Check out the recipe on the Delicious website.
Pumpkin flapjacks
If you like a treat when you’re out and about, why not give these flapjacks a try. TV chef Nadiya Hussain takes all the usual flapjack ingredients but adds pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and star anise to give them an autumnal kick. Get the details on the Red website.
Follow @KBPT on Instagram for more nutritious recipes and check out the Hubbub website for more pumpkin inspiration.
Email kate@kbpersonaltraining.co.uk to find out how KBPT can help you to get healthy this autumn
