Fall Fun With Pumpkins

Halloween is a great time to encourage family fun
with food - by playing and eating pumpkins!

With the Fall season in full swing, we are approaching the fun times of pumpkin patches and pumpkin carving - such great activities for families with small children.  What a wonderful time to allow your kids to learn about and play with pumpkins.  Afer all, the more comfortable and interested they are in this nutrient-packed gourd, the more likely they are to eat it in varying forms.  Pumpkins are thought to have originated in North America.  The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word "pepon" which means "large melon."  Pumpkins are packed with great nutrition to fuel our child's growing bodies.  They contain carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are all antioxidants or anti-cancer properties.  Pumpkins also contain iron, zinc and fiber.  Talk to your children about these interesting facts and more as you have fun picking and carving your pumpkins.

I love those farms that allow you to pick pumpkins right off the vine, although they are harder to find these days.  Many of the pumpkin farms have them already sorted by size and price.  Allow each of your children to have their own pumpkin, if possible, so they can design their own.  Give your child an ice cream scoop or large spoon so they can be part of the messy fun after they draw their own whimsical faces and designs.  I personally like the ideas on Kaboose's pumpkin craft page.

After you have carved your pumpkins, what to do with the pumpkin "guts?"  Don't throw that wonderful nutrition in the trash!  No, continue the fun by baking or cooking a recipe with your children.  You can substitute canned pumpkin in any recipe for fresh pumpkin.  Simly remove the pumpkin seeds and set aside (to lightly salt and roast for their own separate treat later).  Steam the pumpkin pieces and pulp with a bit of water in a pressure cooker, or in a pot using a steaming basket.  When it's done, blendarize your pumpkin and it's ready to be added to your recipe.  These are the recipes that look interesting to me this Halloween:

Eating Well's Pumpkin Cookies or Pumpkin Apple Soup

Taste of Home's Pilgrim Pudding

All Recipe's Pumpkin Bread

Family Oven's Pumpkin Breads & Muffins

What is your family's favorite pumpkin recipe?  I would love to hear from you.  This season, make time to have some family fun with pumpkins!