6 Delicious Ideas for Pumpkin and Squash for this Fall

Fall season means fall cooking and comfort foods. But if you’re trying to stay healthy and count calories, it could be hard to stay away from temptation with all the deliciousness around.

Not a problem! We have compiled six delicious ways to incorporate the veggies into dishes other than lattes and pies.

Take advantage of the low calories and fiber that’s found in pumpkins and other fall squash along with Vitamin C and potassium. They’re a great, healthy addition to your diet.

• Paired with pasta – A popular pairing for squash is pasta. They are the perfect combo of course, combined with cheese. And if you want to lower your calories even further, you can substitute cheese for tofu. Check out this delicious recipe: Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells.

• In a simple salad – Add a unique burst of flavor to a plain salad by adding in cooked pumpkin, chunks of roasted squad along with your more common cranberries, balsamic dressing, pecans and for the cherry on top – pumpkin seeds for some crunch.

• Mixed into Risotto – Believe it or not, squashes also help make a dish creamier and act as a substitute for butter, such as in this Kabocha Squash Risotto dish.

• As a sweet side – Change up the pumpkin dessert this fall and choose squash instead. This Butternut Squash with Apple Pecan Stuffing is perfect for any dish. And if you want fewer calories, opt out of the pecans, and stay with apples only.

• Blended – If you still get a sweet tooth craving, blend pumpkin with coconut whipped cream for a pudding-like treat. You can also add roasted pumpkin to a fruit smoothie, which will add on tons of vitamins and fiber.

• As a savory main dish – What’s the best thing you can have in chilly, cozy fall weather? Soups of course! Try this Pumpkin Lentil Curry or add  pumpkin and squash to your favorite soups, curries and stews to bring in those spice fall flavors.