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The weather is cooling down and the days are growing shorter, but the number one sign that fall is here is big, orange and delicious. That’s right, pumpkins are back. Take advantage of this quintessentially fall fruit and don’t be afraid to add it to anything and everything.
With around 80 calories and one gram of fat per cup, pumpkin proves to be both healthy and nutrient dense. One cup contains around 760 percent of daily Vitamin A, 17 percent of daily Vitamin C, 6 percent of daily calcium and 19 percent of daily iron, based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet. Pumpkin is also loaded with fiber, which aids digestion and helps to lower cholesterol.
No one said pumpkins need to be reserved for Thanksgiving pies. Try adding a cup of pumpkin (or two) to your favorite recipes for a fun fall twist. Or try these recipes for some out of the ordinary pumpkin goodness:
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese from Rachael Ray
Pumpkin Oatmeal from Honey What's Cooking
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies from The Food Network
Pumpkin Soup from Better Homes and Gardens
Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies from Better Homes and Gardens
Pumpkin Spice Latte from Love Veggies and Yoga