Not long ago I was inundated with squash. I was thinking “What am I gonna do with all of this squash!!” It was squash overload. Besides being a fun word to say, it turns out squash is pretty good for you. That is why I am writing to you write now, I mean right now. Chill out. As you know, or should know, I like to ask myself: “Why are you eating this?” and “Is this good for me?” and “What nutrients are in this food?” and again “Why am I eating this?”
You might first like to know that I am no longer inundated with squash. The squash heydays have come and gone, but, it may be that I just ate three squash chocolate chip cookies out of the freezer. Yes, yes, of course, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies sound so much better, but the difference in taste is minimal and when one is inundated with squash it makes an excellent use of the squash.
I used different types of winter squash for my cookies and once cooked and pureed and added to recipes that would use pumpkin, I couldn’t tell the difference (of course, pumpkin is a winter squash as well). I had so many different types, so I ended up cooking all of the acorn, butternut, delicata, fairytale, and others together and pur√©eing them. Just make sure to add enough unrefined cane sugar or honey… ok, you could also use maple syrup, sorghum, stevia, or xylitol, but let’s stop there.
What I like so much about winter squash is that it is very high in vitamins and minerals. It has oodles of vitamin A as well as nice amounts of vitamin C, B1, B3, B5, B6 and minerals like potassium, manganese, folate, and copper. It also has the amino acid tryptophan, you know, like in turkey. And omega-3’s! And fiber to keep you regular! Now we are just getting out of hand… or, squash is getting out of hand. Before you leave thinking that it is too good to be true, just ask yourself, “How else could the pilgrims have survived if the Indians hadn’t shown them the secrets of winter squash and squash pies??”
I’m gonna go grab a couple more squash chocolate chip cookies… good thing that winter squash is still serving me in the winter.
Tim is a health researcher and educator based out of Nashville, TN. Connect with him on Instagram @eattodaytolivetomorrow.
