Harvest of the Month October: Winter Squash

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Harvest of the MonthOctober Winter Squash

• Sarah Conlin RN
• BPSD

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Winter Squash Nutritional Value

• Winter Squash is an excellent source of Vitamin A
  and Vitamin C
• Those that are more orange have more Vitamin A
  and those that are more green have more Vitamin C
• Did you know that the content of Beta Carotene or
  Vitamin A, actually increases with storage
• Winter Squash is an excellent source of Dietary
  Fiber
• It is also a good source of potassium

• Winter Squash
• Serving Size 1 cup, cooked, cubed
• Calories 76
• Calories from Fat 6
• Total Fat 1g 1
• Cholesterol 0mg 0
• Sodium 2mg 0
• Total Carbohydrate 18g 6
• Dietary Fiber 6g 23
• Sugars 7g
• Protein 2g
• Vitamin A 214
• Vitamin C 33
• Calcium 5
• Iron 5
• Source www.nutritiondata.com

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Did You Know

• Winter Squash is in the same family as cucumbers
  and melons
• Their scientific name is Cucurbitaceae
• There are over 50 different types of winter
  squash
• The Most Common Winter Squash is a Pumpkin
• And there are over 40 different types of pumpkins

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Did You Know

• Winter Squash is NOT grown in the winter, is
  actually very tender and can be damaged by cold
  and frost.
• So why you ask is it called winter squash?
• It has a very hard, thick outer skin that
  protects it and allows it to be stored for 1-6
  months during the cool winter months.
• You can eat most all parts of the squash plant
  including the flower or the seeds. Ever try
  roasted pumpkin seeds?

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Did You know

• Squash is really a fruit. It grows on a vine and
  comes from the flower, or the fruit of the plant.

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How Many Can You Identify???

• Acorn
• Banana
• Butternut
• Delicate
• Hubbard
• Kabocha
• Pumpkin
• Spaghetti
• Turban

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How Did You Do?

• Hubbard
• Kabocha
• Pumpkin
• Spaghetti
• Turban

• Acorn
• Banana
• Butternut
• Delicate

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Some Unusual Types of Winter Squash

• Long Island Cheese
• Queensland Blue
• Golden Delicious Hubbard
• Jumbo Pink Banana

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Even More Unusual Types and Names
Sibley Squash Gold Striped Cushaw

• Chicago Warted Squash
• Galeuse dEysines

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Literature Connection

• Carlos and the Squash Plant, by Jan Romero
• In the Three Sisters Garden, by Peduzzi, Peduzzi,
  Dennee, and Hand
• We Gather Together, by Linda Bleck
• Squashed, by Joan Bauer

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Classroom Connections

• Explore the multiple meanings of the word squash
• Investigate the life cycle of the squash blossom
• Predict which squash will float or sink and why
• Discuss the nutritional importance of Vitamin A,
  Vitamin C, and Fiber for your body
• Write a sensory poem about your favorite winter
  squash
• If you could create your own squash, what would
  it look like, what would you name it, and why

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Resources

• http//www.kathyspumpkinpatch.com/content/view/14/
  18/ (great list and descriptions, but no
  pictures)
• http//www.hauntedbay.com/thelab/pumpkin/pumpkinva
  rieties.shtml (great pictures of many pumpkins)
• http//www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/pumpkin1.html
  
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pumpkin_varie
  ties
• http//www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Squ
  ash.asp (great list with over 100 pictures of
  pumpkins and other squash)
• http//www.pumpkin-patch.com/buying.html (some
  fun information on pumpkins for Halloween)