Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash

If you're not in the mood for potatoes this year, why not try a delicious roasted butternut squash as a starchy side dish? It's a great alternative to sweet potatoes smothered with marshmallows.

Butternut squash is a nutritious low-calorie option

Butternut squash is one of the oldest known crops, with a history dating back 10,000 years to Mexico and Central America. It has a mild and slightly sweet flavor with a hint of nuttiness, reminiscent of a cross between a sweet potato and a carrot or turnip.

One serving of butternut squash is approximately 87% water, which helps keep you hydrated. It also boosts your immunity. Like other orange-colored fruits and vegetables, butternut squash is rich in beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which are converted to vitamin A in your body. Vitamin A is essential for a healthy immune system.

Try this simple side dish: Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash

Ingredients:

1 medium butternut squash
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp maple syrup
8–10 fresh sage leaves, chopped (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Peel the squash using a vegetable peeler or a small paring knife.
Slice the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Discard the seeds or save them for later use (see below).
Chop the squash into 3/4″ chunks and toss with olive oil, maple syrup, and sage (if using). Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the squash on a baking sheet and roast until lightly browned on the outside and soft and tender all the way through, approximately 30 minutes.
If desired, add the seeds during the last 10 minutes for an extra crunchy texture.

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

Butternut Squash Soup is incredibly easy to make, gluten-free, vegan, and absolutely delicious.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 white onion, peeled and diced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 cups vegetable broth
1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and roughly chopped
1 medium butternut squash (about 3–4 lb), peeled, seeded, and diced
1 sprig fresh sage
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
A pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
Fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Optional garnishes: smoked paprika, extra drizzle of unsweetened coconut milk

Instructions:

Sauté the onion and garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 more minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
Simmer: Add the vegetable broth, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, cayenne, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir to combine and continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the vegetables are tender and easily mashed with a fork. Remove and discard the sage. Stir in the coconut milk.
Purée: Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth. Alternatively, follow the instructions in the notes below to safely purée the soup using a traditional blender.
Season and serve: Taste the soup and season generously with salt and pepper. Serve warm, topped with your desired garnishes, and enjoy!

Discover Alternative Medicine Magazine

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alternative Medicine?

This is a holistic approach to healing that emphasizes prevention over treatment. It encourages people be educated consumers, actively participating in their own health and well being.

Alternative medicine refers to any system of diagnosis and treatment that does not employ allopathic (conventional) medical practices.

Where can I get more information on holistic medicine?

Holistic medicine, a form of holistic medicine, focuses on the entire person and not on a single part. Holistic medicine addresses all aspects of the patient's health, including spiritual, mental, physical and emotional well-being.

Holistic medicine seeks to treat the person as a whole, rather than treating specific symptoms. Holistic medicine is not about curing the disease. It promotes healing.

Holistic medicine includes preventive measures such as exercise and nutrition and treatments for chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes.

There are many kinds of holistic medicine.

Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Chiropractic medicine
Homeopathy
Herbalism
Naturopathy
Nutrition
Osteopathic medicine
Vedic medicine
Yoga

What are some examples of alternative medicine?

Alternative medicine is any treatment that isn't considered medically necessary to treat disease. These include traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), homeopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture as well as nutritional therapy such like reiki.

Alternative medicine can also be defined as a practice that is not supported by scientific evidence, but which has been proven effective in clinical practice. Meditation, yoga, aromatherapy and reflexology are some examples.

Statistics

A 15-year systematic review published in 2022 on the global acceptance and use of CAM among medical specialists found the overall acceptance of CAM at 52% and the overall use at 45%. (en.wikipedia.org)
In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
The use of alternative medicine in the US has increased, with a 50 percent increase in expenditures and a 25 percent increase in the use of alternative therapies between 1990 and 1997 in America. (en.wikipedia.org)
According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people use herbal medicine worldwide. (webmd.com)
In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

How to deal with my girlfriend who believes in alternative medicine?

The internet offers guidance for those caring for a loved one with a mental illness. There is not much information available to assist those who believe in alternative medicine.

It appears that there is a large divide between the two groups. There is a wide range of opinions on conventional medicine.

What happens when you meet someone who believes that there are alternative treatments to mental health problems?

Because you don't know the right way to respond, you might feel confused or frustrated. You might feel confused and frustrated if your partner tells you that he'd rather see an acupuncturist than his physician. Or when she says she'd rather eat gluten free than take antidepressants.

It is important that you ask questions. It can save you a lot of pain later.

These are difficult questions to ask without offending the patient. What if he tells you that he doesn’t trust doctors? Tell him that he should not trust anyone.

What if she claims that antidepressants don't work? You can correct her.

This is where the conversation becomes tricky. If you point out her error, it could cause you to upset her further.

You could also suggest she see a psychiatrist. This may cause more problems than it solves. You might be angry with her for suggesting it. Or, she may believe you are trying control her life.

What should you do?

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