Pumpkin Carving and the Seeds Within

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October is a month filled with going out and doing all of the fun "fall" things. This includes going to pumpkin patches, walking through corn mazes, going on hay rides, drinking apple cider, eating or drinking anything pumpkin, going to haunted houses, and of course, painting or carving pumpkins. 

I am more of a pumpkin carver and I love having pumpkin carving competitions with my family each year, as many people do, whether it's a competition or just for fun! I love this family tradition because it allows us to spend time together and have fun, with a loving competition thrown in. Another reason I love pumpkin carving, is for the freshly roasted pumpkin seeds! Did you know that this fun, creative tradition can also provide a great source of nutrients for your body as well? 

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of multiple nutrients and is a lot less expensive to get them from the inside of your pumpkin, than from the store. It's easy to separate the seeds while you're gutting the pumpkins, put them into a bowl on the side, and throw them into the oven for a yummy snack once the carving is done! One of my favorite ways to prepare pumpkin seeds is to roast them with cinnamon and sugar. I love the sweet, with a hint of salty, taste that these give off. If that's not your taste, then there are multiple other ways to roast pumpkin seeds too! But if it is, then here is a great recipe: https://joyfoodsunshine.com/cinnamon-sugar-pumpkin-seeds/#wprm-recipe-container-8868

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, magnesium, and zinc. Antioxidants and zinc help to reduce inflammation in the body. Fiber helps maintain good digestion. Magnesium aids in controlling blood pressure, forming and maintaining strong bones, regulating blood sugar, and reducing the risk of heart disease. Pumpkin seeds are also a great source of tryptophan that can help improve regulation of sleep. 

These types of seeds provide so many nutrients and health benefits. It doesn't have to be October for you to make these at home or even snag them from the store. But getting them from carving pumpkins is a lot more fun! So instead of throwing the guts of your carved pumpkins out this year, save the seeds for a nutritious and delicious snack!

-AM




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Comments

  1. ABNovember 12, 2020 at 4:55 PM

    I never got a chance to carve pumpkins this October, but my favorite thing to do is roast pumpkin seeds! It's so fun to make them sweet, salty, spicy, all the flavors!!
    AB

    ReplyDelete

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