Pumpkins

Autumn presents a scary time for Pumpkins as they suffer the annual Halloween carving cull resulting in massive food waste. With a staggering 22.2 million going to waste annually in the UK. I thought it an appropriate time to share some of the nutritional benefits of this delicious vegetable but also help offer some delicious recipes help you reduce the needless food waste this plant suffers over the coming weeks, especially around Halloween. Its seeds, peels, and flesh are excellent sources of nutrients like carbohydrates, fibre, amino acids, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, with a high content of antioxidant compounds such as Vitamin E and Carotenoids. It’s those bioactive phytochemicals present in pumpkins which contribute significantly to their notable health benefits.