Let’s talk about Squash. Specifically, let’s talk about the one that’s called, rather interestingly, the Butternut Squash.

It’s not often that squash gets very interesting – after all, it’s the lesser-known and often-confused cousin of the pumpkin, the perennial Halloween decoration that we carve out every end of October. Whether it’s eating the vegetable as part of the sickbed diet or cleaning up its decayed remnants, we don’t really think of pumpkins – or squash, for that matter – much.

But what if we told you that there’s a distinct difference between this particular squash and the rest of its family? What if we told you – and we’re hyping it up now – that the Butternut squash deserves a lot more credit than it gets from the vegetable world?

Let’s dig in!

A QUICK BACKGROUND

The butternut squash is a winter squash that is most recognizable for its bright orange color (both inside and out) and its guitar-shaped body. It has a sweet, nutty flavor that goes well with a variety of dishes and desserts, making it a versatile culinary ingredient. It also packs, ounce for ounce, a lot of essential nutrients that some of its heftier and more popular cousins lack.

Because the flavor of the butternut squash is fairly mild (it won’t be overpowering any spices, for example), it’s often added into dishes that require something to cut into stronger flavors, or to add texture.

Popularly served roasted, it’s also served in soups, savory dishes, as a key ingredient to pies, or grilled with spices and other vegetables as an alternative to meat. The seeds and skin can also be dried and roasted for a crunchy snack.

QUICK NUTRIENT CHECK!

A cup serving of cooked butternut squash – roughly 200 grams, give or take a few – contains only 83 calories and zero fat. It also contains 16 grams of carbohydrates, which isn’t too bad, as well as 1.4 grams of protein and 6 milligrams of sodium. If there’s a negative for the butternut squash, it’s the fact that it contains 3 grams of sugar per cup serving.

In terms of essential vitamins, the culinary vegetable 1.2 milligrams of niacin, 1.44 milligrams of vitamin E, and a whopping 21 milligrams of vitamin C – over 100% of the daily requirement for the vitamin that your body needs to function efficiently.

Butternut squash is a great hydrating vegetable if served blanched; as it has high water content, it retains most of its moisture, which is also great contrast if it’s mixed in with other vegetables that dry pretty quickly.

The vegetable is also an immune system booster – butternut squash contains alpha- and beta-carotene, which the human body then converts into vitamin A, a nutrient that keeps cells in our heart, lungs, and kidneys healthy. It also has lutein and zeaxanthin, which along with vitamin A help to improve eyesight.

IS IT WORTH IT?

If you ask us? Definitely, yes! The butternut squash is a healthy and tasty vegetable that suits a surprising number of dishes, making it a very easy addition to your fast metabolism diet plan.

The COVID-19 pandemic may not seem like the best time to explore unfamiliar vegetables (for some), but that doesn’t mean we have to be fuddy-duddy adults about our food too. Have a little fun with your vegetables – add some color and sweetness to your favorite dish with butternut squash today!

The post Getting to Know The Curiously Named Butternut Squash appeared first on The Fast Metabolism Diet Community.