Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
It's the time of year when goblins and ghouls come out to play, so this week on Healthwatch we'll be talking about Halloween. When you carve a pumpkin to make your Halloween decor, nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say you shouldn't ignore what's inside the pumpkin.
Pumpkins are packed with nutrition.
Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian at UT Southwestern, says pumpkin is low in fat and calories and full of vitamins. The flesh is a good source of vitamins A and C and potassium. You can oven roast the seeds for a snack or crunchy salad topping that's full of fiber, a healthy fat and vitamin B12.
If you're planning to cook a pumpkin, you'll choose a different pumpkin than one you'd use for carving. Look for a smaller pumpkin, which will likely be softer and tastier.
Next: looking at the labels on candy.
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October 2005
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