Fall brings with it an array of gorgeous colours and loads of reasons to be happy: crisp, fresh apples, Halloween and frightfully adorable treat-or-treaters, and of course, yummy squash! Starting late September/early October, you can find a variety of delicious and affordable squash lining your grocery store shelves. It’s time to head to the kitchen and try your hand at some of our hearty and comforting fall-inspired dishes!
You can also take advantage of the fall harvest to stock up on squash; cooked or raw, squash freezes really well.
Fascinating and fun, children will love cooking with squash—so go ahead and ask them to help you whip up some budget-friendly and nutritious recipes!
So many squash varieties
Squash is part of the Cucurbitaceae family, same as pumpkins—a family favourite and symbol of Halloween. Get the kids involved by asking them to pick out the squash themselves. Tell them to pay special attention to:
- their shape – Elongated pear (butternut squash), oval (spaghetti squash), wavy (acorn squash) or similar to a green pumpkin (buttercup squash).
- their texture – Make the kids laugh by pointing out some of the bumpiest squash in the pile . . . but make sure to tell them that whether smooth or bumpy, all of them are delicious!
- Their size – Ask the kids to pick out medium-size squash. Too small and they’ll lack flavour; too big and they’ll be too fibrous.
When it comes to taste, a squash’s sweetness will vary according to type. To learn more about each variety, click here.
Kid-friendly recipes made with squash
Reinvent your favourite classics using squash! Opt for recipes the kids will love, both in terms of prep and taste.
- For example, spaghetti squash can be fun to empty out. Its flesh resembles long, thin pasta, and is delicious topped with spaghetti sauce. For a fun idea the kids will love, keep the outer shell and use them as bowls in which to serve your dish.
- Cut up some acorn or butternut squash to make fries. No kid will be able to resist.
- Are your children not fans of mashed potatoes? Swap the potatoes for acorn squash and make this deliciously sweet purée or this reinvented scalloped squash and potatoes
Squash for dessert!
Yes, you read that right! With their melt-in-your-mouth texture and slightly sweet flavour, squash make a great addition to your desserts. These recipes are “kid-approved” on IGA’s website:
Butternut squash is a great source of fibre and vitamin A. Served with a glass of milk and some fruit, this bread and these muffins make a great recess snack and will help keep the kids full until lunch, all while contributing to the healthy development of their bones and teeth, as well as the overall health of their skin and eyesight.