Health Benefits of Pumpkins: Make it at Home! Rich source of Vitamin A (carotenoids) and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Potassium After you carve pumpkins, don’t throw Low glycemic index away the seeds! Save them to create a Pumpkin seeds are low in fat, high in protein, and delicious and healthy snack! contain many essential vitamins and minerals Ingredients: Studies show anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic, 2 cups fresh pumpkin seeds (from antioxidant and anti-microbial potential 2 medium pumpkins), rinsed and May help prevent kidney stone formation patted dry Reduce risk of heart disease due to hypotensive, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil anti-inflammatory, and blood-coagulatory effects 2 tablespoons brown sugar ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon Pumpkin Pun: Directions: What do you use to mend Heat oven to 300° F. Spread the a broken jack-o-lantern? seeds on a rimmed baking sheet A pumpkin patch! and bake until dry throughout, 50 Fun Pumpkin Facts: to 60 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 350° Pumpkins are members of the Cucurbita family, F. In a large bowl, toss the seeds including squash and cucumbers. with the oil, sugar, salt, and 80% of the US pumpkin supply is available in cinnamon. Return the seeds to the baking October. sheet and toast, tossing Antarctica is the only continent where pumpkins occasionally, until golden brown, can’t grow. 10 to 15 minutes. Enjoy! The largest pumpkin in history weighed 1,140 pounds! Jack-o-Lanterns originated from a Celtic celebration called Samhain, meaning “Summer’s End.” It was believed that passed souls were closest to contact and carved gourds would be set out as both a beacon to deceased loved ones and to ward off evil spirits. References: Medicinal and biological potential of pumpkin: an updated review. Nutrition Research Reviews (2010), 23, 184–190. www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/sweet-and-salty-pumpkin-seeds The Pumpkin Patch, 2015. .