One of my most favorite days to celebrate is National Acorn Squash Day – Tuesday, September 7.
These little cuties are not only beautiful to look at, they are delicious to eat. But that begs and important question:
Is Squash A Fruit or Vegetable?
Fruits contain seeds and develop from the flowers of a plant. On the other hand, vegetables are a plant’s roots, stems or leaves.
All types of squash have seeds and come from the flowering part of plants. In fact, edible flowers even grow out of squash and are known as squash blossoms.
Therefore, squash is considered a fruit.
Most fruits always seem to have that balance of satisfying your sweet tooth, while supplying your body with a bounty of nutrients. The squash is one of the fruits that possess that quality effortlessly.
History
Acorn squash is indigenous to North and Central America and was introduced to early European settlers by Native Americans. It is a type of winter squash that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae or gourd family, which also includes pumpkin, butternut squash, and zucchini.
Evidence of the domestication of squash is found in the Guilá Naquitz cave in Oaxaca, Mexico, during a series of excavations in the 1960s to 1970s.
Healthy
Acorn squash has sweet, yellow-orange flesh that has a slightly nutty flavor. It can be baked, microwaved, sautéed, or steamed. You can also toast the seeds of the acorn squash much like pumpkin seeds. It is also a good source of dietary fiber and potassium, as well as smaller amounts of vitamins C and B, magnesium, and manganese..
So pick one up today and enjoy the delight!