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There are very few people who have a passion for pumpkin – unless it’s in pie or used as a Halloween decoration. But pumpkin is actually a very nutritious vegetable, packed with vitamins and fibre, and prepared properly it’s delicious. Here’s how to do this underrated veggie justice – and why you should add it to your shopping list.

Pumping your body with healthy vitamins

Pumpkin is a great source of fibre and a half a cup will get you roughly five grams of it. Fibre aids your digestive system, plays a role in losing weight, helps control blood sugar levels, reduces your cholesterol and protects your body from heart disease. Pumpkin also contains vitamin C which boosts your immune system, protects your body from heart disease, regulates your cholesterol and helps reduce your blood pressure. The vegetable can also help your skin because it contains vitamin E which protects your body from the sun.

Choosing and preparing your pumpkin

When shopping for a pumpkin, look for one that is heavy in comparison to its size. The lighter ones tend to be dry with a bigger hole in the middle. You do not have to pick the biggest pumpkin, but it should definitely be weighty. Keep it in a cool and dry place.

Your pumpkin will last for a week or two, but once you cut it you will have to use it within a few days. When it comes to cooking a pumpkin, most people are put off by the hard labour needed to cut and peel it. You do not have to open a pumpkin before you cook it. Simply jab it a few times with a knife, stick it in the oven and attempt to cut it once it is easy enough to stick your knife through.

Make a puree, eat it in a pie or make a hearty soup. Pumpkin is a great indulgent treat with a bit of butter, sugar and cinnamon.

Tags: eating healthily, vegetables, vitamins