• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Flexitarian Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Guides & Reviews
  • Contact

Inspired Epicurean logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Flexitarian Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Guides & Reviews
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Flexitarian Recipes
    • Lifestyle
    • Guides & Reviews
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Vegan Recipes » Main Dishes

    February 18, 2018 Flexitarian Recipes

    Butternut Squash's Last "Hoorah" of Winter

    Soon, spring will have officially “sprung” and we will get to enjoy the change in our diet. Just as the temperatures change, so do our ingredients. I am starting to plan the meals we will enjoy this spring and summer, organizing the garden to start growing more of the ingredients ourselves (more to come!), and am absolutely looking forward to salads garnished with fresh cilantro from the garden and fruit compotes of banana, strawberries, and blueberries.

    In an effort to fully harness the waning winter months, Cliff and I decided to get a few more entrées starring butternut squash as the headliner. We love the full flavor of this gourd, and it makes us feel much healthier when we incorporate it into our diet. Last week, we tried Slow Cooker Risotto with Butternut Squash by Well Plated and loved the dish. As suggested in the blog post, we used brown rice as a healthier substitute and really felt like it was a great choice. Not to mention, any opportunity to use my slow cooker is an automatic win, in my opinion.

    Below, you will find some additional “fun facts” about butternut squash, and reasons you might want to add it to your menu before this star of the fall months is replaced by the showstoppers of summer.

    Would you like to save this?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    • According to wholeliving.com, butternut squash is actually a fruit, since you will find seeds inside the gourd.
    • This winter squash is simply PACKED with nutrients, yet is still low in fat. The USDA’s calculations indicate that 1 cup of cubed, butternut squash only contains 82 calories. I feel even better about the cup of squash I had for lunch the other day…yay for leftovers!
    • Some of the most prevalent nutrients include calcium, potassium, and vitamin A. In fact, a butternut squash offers more potassium in one serving than a banana. Seriously?

    So, how does this apply to you? Medical News Today (using statistics from the USDA and World Health Organization) provides a fantastic overview of the health benefits that impact all of us.

    • Deep breaths. The WHO cites a higher potassium intake is critical to reducing high blood pressure. Most of us already understand the implications of high blood pressure, but even if you don’t, just know that it is best to keep it down starting from a young age.
    • Show off that orange glow! Beta-carotene is also present in this super-squash, and has been known to reduce asthma risks. This carotenoid, among others, may also help reduce the risk of colon cancer.
    • Keep up with that fiber! We all need to make sure we get enough fiber in our diets, and the good news is that butternut squash provides just over 6.5 grams of fiber in one serving. This is particularly helpful for those who suffer from type 1 diabetes and depend upon a high-fiber diet.
    • Show me those gorgeous tresses! Vitamin A helps keep hair and skin en pointe...combined with Vitamin C (which helps produce collagen), you might actually FEEL more beautiful when you wake up tomorrow morning.
    • Give that immune system of yours some L-O-V-E! Of course, all of these benefits (and these are just a sample of them) help promote a healthier immune system. With the flu epidemic this winter, I’ll take any boost to the immune system I can get!

    What are some of your favorite butternut squash recipes? I’d love to hear your ideas – I may just need to incorporate this winter gourd into our diet year-round!

    Until next time, I hope you enjoy your #hearthhealthhappiness!

    More Main Dishes

    • overhead image of broccolini soup with bread and raw broccolini next to the bowl
      Cream of Broccolini Soup (Vegan)
    • holding a stack of red lentil tortillas in green tea towel
      Red Lentil Tortillas (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
    • sunflower seed veggie hummus bowl | food blog | hearth health happiness
      Sunflower Seed Tahini Hummus Bowls
    • plant-based fiesta coconut shrimp | food blog | hearth health happiness
      Plant-Based Fiesta Coconut Shrimp

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Corrine says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      This looks so good! I love butternut squash any way but my family is a bit more picky. I might have to give this one a go!

      Reply
      • hearthhealthhappiness says

        February 19, 2018 at 6:32 pm

        Thanks, Corrine! I would definitely recommend it...the recipe provides some great options to make adjustments, if necessary. For example, we used goat cheese (as recommended), but that could easily be swapped for something different. The combination of ingredients provides enough balance that I think those more "on the fence" with butternut squash might find it much more palatable. Let me know if you do try it!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Melanie Lorick Hair Half-up looking at camera

    Welcome! I'm Melanie - the founder and content creator of Inspired Epicurean. I share delicious vegan recipes (with a few flexitarian recipes from my pre-vegan days).


    Our lifestyle content is crafted to bring eco-friendly and sustainable ideas more mainstream. Learn more about what Inspired Epicurean has to offer in the about me section. Pull up a seat, friends. Cheers!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • square overhead image of roasted carrots on layer of vegan whipped feta ready for serving
      Roasted Carrots and Whipped Feta (Vegan)
    • angled image of strawberry chocolate chip bread with a few slices falling forward to show interior
      Strawberry Chocolate Chip Bread
    • white sofa in living room
      Sabai Essential Sofa Review (Unsponsored)
    • square image of balsamic basil vinaigrette pouring over salad
      Balsamic Basil Vinaigrette
    Cookd Pro: A Genesis Child Theme for Food & Lifestyle Bloggers

    Footer

    Stay Connected

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Inspired Epicurean
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates, plus download your free ebook!

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2025 Cook'd Pro on the Cook'd Pro Theme

    Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions