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Vegetables are always healthy, right? Wrong. While vegetables can deliver essential vitamins and nutrients to our diets, some also contain unhealthy components that we don’t want.
There’s a reason why certain meal plans like the keto diet eliminate some vegetables – veggies can be a source of carbs and starches. And there are some vegetables that dietitians even say you should cut out from your diet to avoid eating unwanted carbs.
You might think that the vegetable to avoid is going to be potatoes, but there is actually another starchy food that isn’t as healthy as you would expect. And, this is a veggie that most of us were expecting to eat a lot of in the coming months: pumpkins.
According to Registered DIetitian Trista Best MPH, RD, LD, you should stop eating pumpkins as soon as possible.
She told SheFinds, "Pumpkin is a popular fall flavoring and dessert base, but you may want to bypass this favorite winter squash. Aside from being a high starch vegetable, it is most often used as a base for high fat, sugar, and sodium recipes.
"Preparing pumpkin in this way nearly negates any of the benefits one would usually get from eating pumpkin. Seldom is pumpkin consumed on it's own without adding poor nutrient quality ingredients in the preparation process."
This season's Thanksgiving desserts might have to be revised if you want to follow Best's advice, but your body and your health will thank you if you do try to come up with alternative ideas. Your fall plans don't have to suffer with some creative thinking! Here are some different squash recipes to try:
Healthy Pumpkin Soup Alternative
Try making an acorn squash soup instead of using pumpkin. This type of soup can be made similarly to pumpkin soup, but you should caramelize and roast the squash first for a more flavorful outcome.
Healthy Pumpkin Pie Alternative
Did you know you can make pie with butternut squash? Not only is this a healthier option than pumpkin pie, but it can add a new flavor palette to your dessert menu. Try candying the squash for a sweeter flavor.
