Picking up your pumpkin this week (like the rest of the country)?
Then chances are you will be knee-deep in pumpkin pulp in the next few days, as you set about carving your jack-o'-lantern. And while you might find yourself thinking all there is left to do with the pumpkin guts and those orange, slimy, seed-filled strings is to toss them in the bin, think again.
As it turns out, your leftover pumpkin guts have plenty of great (and nutritional) uses – here are just three easy ways you can upcycle your leftovers this Halloween:
1. Roast the seeds for a healthy snack
Pumpkin seeds are
nutritional powerhouses wrapped up in a very small package, with a wide variety of nutrients ranging from magnesium and manganese to copper, protein and zinc.
As well as all that, these little beauties also
contain a wide array of beneficial plant compounds known as phytosterols and free-radical scavenging antioxidants, which can give your health an added boost.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy pumpkin seeds (they are delicious in granola, for instance), but this sweet and spicy pumpkin seed recipe from
Martha Stewart sounds all sorts of yum.
2. Bake a loaf of pumpkin bread
Pumpkin flesh can be used as pumpkin purée to make your favourite pumpkin bread. Just make sure you've separated it from the seeds before chopping it up as finely as you can, or blending in a food processor.
We don't know about you, but we think this recipe for '
The Ultimate Pumpkin Loaf' sounds all sorts of delicious.
3. Make a body scrub
Guess what? Pumpkin pulp is chock-a-block with vitamins and goodness for your skin and body. This DIY this body scrub from
Freutcake is packed with natural enzymes that fight free radicals, slough away dead skin and leave you feeling rejuvenated.
What are you waiting for? Get to the kitchen and mix nutrient-rich, raw pumpkin with coarse sugar or salt, a bit of honey and sweet almond oil for a body scrub that packs a punch (and leaves you smelling like a pumpkin spice latte all day too!)
