Finals are here, the holiday season is in full swing and we are ready to celebrate with our December super foods! This month, winter squash, cranberries, and nuts take center stage at Campus Dining.
Winter squash come in a variety of forms, including the most popular butternut, spaghetti, and acorn squash. These veggies are packed with vitamins, vibrant in color, and compliment seasonal dishes well. They are low in calories and fat, and full of vitamin A, C, and E.
One fun way to incorporate squash into your diet is by substituting spaghetti pasta for spaghetti squash. Add sauce and meatballs on top and you have a healthy alternative to spaghetti and meatballs! Winter squash is also delicious roasted with herbs, blended into soups, and added into casseroles.
Add a pop of tartness and color to your salad with cranberries! These berries are small but mighty in their sweet, tangy flavor and immense health benefits. Cranberries are loaded with antioxidants, help boost your immune system, and decrease blood pressure. These berries can be consumed fresh, dried, frozen, or liquified. Whether added to a sauce, cider, trail mix, smoothies, oatmeal, or muffins, these fruits are a fun and healthy addition.
Rich in protein and unsaturated fats, nuts are perfect for spicing up salads and deserts, and are the base of many healthy holiday snacks. Almonds, cashews, and pistachios are the best for you in terms of calorie count, but all nuts are a great source of protein and fiber.
Quick Facts:
Winter squash are actually harvested in fall and get their name from their ability to save well through winter.
Cranberries are a food native to North America.
Peanuts help your brain! They contain an abundance of the mineral, folate, which aids in brain development.