Healthy Butternut Squash Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are 3 ways you can eat butternut squash? ›

One cup of cooked butternut squash has only 83 calories and provides 7 grams of filling fiber — making it an excellent choice to lose excess weight and body fat. It contains both insoluble and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber has been associated with fat loss and decreased appetite.

Butternut squash is rich in important vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants. This low-calorie, fiber-rich winter squash may help you lose weight and protect against conditions like cancer, heart disease, and mental decline. Plus, it's versatile and easily added to both sweet and savory dishes.

You can bake or roast it in your oven and top it off with either savory or sweet seasonings. Cinnamon can add sweetness to acorn squash while still being nutritious – or even dessert. You can even eat the skin for added fiber.

Butternut squash offers nutritional values like vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. Health benefits of this winter squash include managing high blood pressure, preventing asthma, and promoting healthy skin and hair. Contrary to the name, winter squash is grown in the summer and harvested in the fall.

Butternut squash is a low-calorie food and is packed with nutrients. While it's higher in carbs than some other veggies, its low glycemic index (a ranking of how carbs affect blood sugar) still makes it a healthy choice for most people.

To begin with, the butternut squash beats the sweet potato with fewer calories, carbs and sugar per serving. Moreover, it is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins B6 and E. On the other hand, the sweet potato, however, provides more fiber and protein.

Winter squash: Winter squash, including butternut squash and acorn squash, is a starchy vegetable that is high in carbs. One cup of cooked butternut squash contains around 21 grams of carbs, while one cup of cooked acorn squash contains around 15 grams.

Healthy Ways to Cook Vegetables

To steam, place food into a steam basket and cover over simmering water. Since food is not directly touching the water, vegetables retain more of their nutrients. Just watch steaming closely so as not to overcook your veggies.

One cup of cooked squash with a volume of 205ml has only 83 calories and has up to 7 grams of fiber. Therefore, this is also a great choice for those who want to lose weight and obesity. Squash contains a lot of fiber, including both soluble and insoluble fiber.

What is the healthiest squash for weight loss? ›

Spaghetti Squash

Nutrition Highlights: With just 42 calories per one-cup serving, 2.2 grams of fiber and 10 grams of carbohydrates, spaghetti squash is a better choice than even the healthiest type of pasta. It also gives you 181 milligrams of potassium and almost no sodium.

Raw butternut squash is carrot-like and holds up well in crunchy salads and slaws. If opting for raw squash over cooked squash, start by peeling away the tough outer skin (FYI, you can eat the skin when it's cooked. It's full of fiber and completely edible when softened up a bit).

Caution: do not mash or puree!

To can pumpkin or squash: Cut the flesh into 1-inch cubes. Boil the cubes in water for 2 minutes. Fill the jars with cubes and cooking liquid, leaving 1-inch of headspace.

All varieties can be eaten raw. Shred raw summer squash for a taco filling — or as a substitute for shredded lettuce on a burger or a hot dog. Shred for a slaw with radishes and jicama. (Squeeze moisture by the handful from the shredded vegetable so it doesn't water down the dressing.)