Winter Wellness with Michigan Squash

Local Michigan squashes are a delicious and nutritious addition to your dinner table. Here’s

why, they are:

• Powerhouses of vitamin C, a real bonus for strengthening your immune system.

• Packed with beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant. Beta-carotene gives squash its beautiful color and supports eye health, may lower the risk of heart disease, reduce inflammation and help to keep your skin vibrant.

• Full of potassium and magnesium which are essential minerals to support your heart and blood pressure.

• Rich in fiber, which aids digestion, supports gut health and keeps you full longer.

• Squash can help keep blood sugar levels steady, reducing the spikes and crashes that lead to energy slumps.

• Low in calories and in high flavor, a satisfying comfort food.

• High in calcium and vitamin K, essential nutrients to help keep your bones strong.

Embrace the Michigan Squash Season

Not only is winter squash good for you, but buying Michigan squash is a great way to support

our local farmers. Here’s my guide:

Acorn Squash has a mild, sweet slightly nutty taste. A small green squash that sometimes has a patch of orange near the top. It’s less sweet with a creamy, smooth texture when cooked. Slice it in half, bake it in the skin and scoop out the flesh to mix with butter and brown sugar, or savory herbs for a hearty side.

Butternut Squash is sweet, nutty, and creamy. It’s oblong, yellow and has a smooth thin skin exterior with a deep orange interior, with seeds in the bulb end. Weighing 1-5 pounds, this versatile variety is wonderful in soups, purees, and roasting. It pairs well with herbs and spices, both sweet and savory.

Delicata Squash is named for its delicate, edible skin, it’s an early winter squash. About 8” long with cream-yellow skin and green strips. Easy to cook, with a creamy texture and mild sweetness. Slice, roast or use it in stuffing as a side dish or salad topping.

Hubbard Squash has a rich, sweet, and slightly nutty flavor, like sweet potatoes but with a deeper, earthier taste. A large squash with very hard bumpy skin ranging from blueish green to orange. Its flesh is dense and dry, which becomes creamy when cooked, making it ideal for hearty dishes, stews and soups. The sweetness intensifies during roasting, lending a caramelized, almost chestnut-like flavor. Because of its tough skin, you may need a heavy knife or cleaver to cut it. I use the cement driveway drop and break method. This big boy can top 20 - 30 pounds. The effort is well worth it for its unique flavor and versatility!

Kabocha Squash or Japanese Pumpkin has yellow skin and orange sweet flesh with the flavor of sweet potatoes and chestnuts. A hard, bumpy dark green shell with celery green striations, it’s heavy for its size, about 3 pounds. It can be used as a pumpkin substitute as its flesh is creamy and smooth. It will make velvety pie filling. The skin is edible and turns soft when cooked. Brought to the U.S. in the 1500s it’s great for roasting, steaming, or adding to curries.

Spaghetti Squash has a mild, slightly nutty flavor and works great as a low-carb alternative to pasta. A medium sized oblong squash with yellowish skin, and the flesh separates into long spaghetti-like strands when cooked. Add marinara, pesto, or bake it with cheese and herbs for a healthy dish.

Squash is naturally delicious and packed with nutrients to keep you feeling at your best this winter. Each has a unique flavor, lending themselves to seasonal baking, a great mashed potato alternative, and versatile side dishes. Try them all to find your favorite.

Health and hugs.

References:
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/winter-squash/
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/winter-squash/winter-squash-eating-experience-slideshow.html
The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Please consult with your medical care provider prior to changing your dietary supplements.