11 Recipes Featuring Acorn Squash as the Star Ingredient (2024)

FAQs

Does acorn squash raise blood sugar? ›

Its low glycemic index can help prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, making it a suitable option for maintaining stable glucose levels. Moreover, the dietary fiber content in squash aids in slowing down the absorption of sugar, promoting better blood sugar control and overall metabolic health.

Acorn squash has more carotenoids than any other food. Carotenoids are a powerful antioxidant that help fight inflammation and prevent cell damage.

Acorn squash is a highly nutritious carb choice. It's rich in many vitamins and minerals that promote your health in various ways. The bright orange flesh of acorn squash is packed with vitamin C, provitamin A, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, iron, and manganese, all of which are critical for health.

Potassium-rich foods like squash also help your body function by supporting your heart and can help lower blood pressure. “And research has linked the beta-carotene in squash with heart disease prevention,” she adds.

Kidney-friendly squashes include yellow crookneck, scallop, and spaghetti. Some that should be enjoyed on occasion in half serving sizes (due to their potassium content) include pumpkin, butternut, acorn, hubbard and zucchini.

A 1-cup serving of beets provides roughly 7 milligrams of vitamin C, according to the USDA, or 8% of the recommended intake in a day. Beets may not contain as much vitamin C as citrus fruit, but their vitamin C content adds to the pool of nutrients that make them exceptional for warding off inflammation.

Squash is also high in fiber, which aids in digestion. Additionally, squash is a good source of: Magnesium. Calcium.

Acorn Squash

Starchy vegetables like winter squash also provide fiber to help you poop. Acorn squash is a small winter squash with orange flesh; its exterior is typically green but can also be white or orange.

How to avoid toxic squash syndrome. Due to the intense and unpleasant bitterness of plants with a high cucurbitacin concentration, you can usually tell when squash is bad. If you take a bite of squash and notice a nasty taste, spit it out and throw it away.

Acorn squash has very low-fat content, with only 0.1 grams per 100g. Most of this fat (0.042grams) is polyunsaturated, a beneficial source for weight loss. Furthermore, it contains fewer sugar molecules than other winter and summer varieties. As a result, squash is a perfect low-carb diet.

Is it OK to eat raw acorn squash? ›

Skip eating most hard-skinned squash raw. "Hard skinned squash is difficult to eat raw," Marz says. "They are usually much larger in size, have a harder flesh, and are much more fibrous." Examples of hard-skinned squash that should not be eaten raw include: pumpkins, delicate, butternut, Hubbard, and acorn.

You'll know when the squash is done when you can easily insert a fork in the flesh. You want it tender, yet not mushy. If the squash is already cut in half, you can easily test if it is done by sticking a fork in the flesh of the squash. If it's fork-tender, it's done cooking and ready to eat.

Next time you roast a squash like acorn, butternut or honeynut, try leaving the skins on and give them a nibble. Be sure to scrub the skin well, Joyce recommends, to remove any dirt or debris. The pleasantly chewy texture may just surprise you, plus you can never go wrong with more fiber.

Its fiber helps with blood sugar. Butternut squash contains a type of fiber that's not digestible. If you have diabetes, it can help keep your blood sugar from rising after eating. Butternut squash also has a low glycemic index, which means that its carbs are digested more slowly.

Acorn squash is a starchy vegetable, meaning it's higher in carbs than non starchy ones, like broccoli and spinach. If you're watching your carbs, limit acorn squash to one cup or about 25% of your plate.

Starchy potatoes

“Potatoes are a vegetable, but the health value of all vegetables are not interchangeable. White potatoes in particular have a very high glycemic load. As a result, a baked white potato can also raise blood sugar even more than a glazed doughnut.”

The dense, filling food is fairly low in calories and has a low GI. Like most vegetables, squash contains beneficial antioxidants. Squash also has less sugar than sweet potatoes, making it a great alternative.