Author: Maria Alfano
Want all the pleasure of eating spaghetti with none of the guilt? These 3 spaghetti squash benefits of and super easy must-try delicious recipe will make your tummy rumble and mouth water! Who doesn’t love the thought of spaghetti and meatballs in a rich tomato sauce? Or, a pesto sauce smothered spaghetti? This winter squash makes the perfect alternative to all the carbs and starch from actual spaghetti noodles.
To be honest, I was never much of a fan of spaghetti growing up, but I have o admit, this spaghetti squash has made me a believer. I thoroughly enjoy having this 3 or 4 times per month. The subtle flavor of the squash adapts well with any sauce you choose to use. Frankly, my favorite is a Bolognese (tomato and minced beef) sauce.
I am a food lover but my health was heading down the wrong path so I set out to find delicious recipes for my whole family to enjoy. I stumbled upon the humble spaghetti squash. This was not something we ate growing up, but I was willing to give it a try. Boy am I glad I did. You see, my husband loves spaghetti but he couldn’t eat it for his own health reasons. So when his face lit up with joy when I made the spaghetti squash for him that first time, I knew I had a winner on my hands.
Even the worst eater in your family will enjoy eating this for dinner. Spaghetti squash has the look of cooked noodles without the bad stuff and all of the deliciousness. In this post, you will learn the benefits of spaghetti squash, how to store it and two versions of a super simple recipe.
3 Spaghetti Squash Nutrition Benefits & Super Easy Must-Try Delicious Recipe
Spaghetti Squash Nutrition Benefits:
1- one cup of cooked spaghetti squash contains the following compared to conventional grain-made spaghetti.
Consider the differences in the carbs first. This alone should be the biggest reason to switch from pasta (refined or whole wheat). Not to mention the fewer calories and fat content.
2 – Excellent source of vitamins
Spaghetti squash is a good source of vitamins A, B, C, E, and Manganese
- Vitamins A & E are beneficial for eye health
- Vitamin B is good for brain health
- Manganese is good for bone health
3- Controls Blood Sugar and Protects from bowel diseases
Because of its low glycemic index, the spaghetti squash has been shown to help control spikes in blood sugar after a meal, making it a good carb to eat. Unlike its cousin, man-made pasta has a high glycemic index and spikes blood sugars after a meal. It has also been shown to protect from IBD, some cancers, and diverticulitis. Please remember to always check with your physician for treatments of these diseases.
Is It High In Sugar
Spaghetti squash contains around 4 grams of sugar and 2 grams of fiber per cup making it an ideal meal for anyone on a low sugar diet.
Storage
Spaghetti squash can be found almost year-round at your local supermarket. You can pick one up fresh anytime you need one. Having said that, you can store this veggie in a cool dry place for up to 3 weeks. I have always kept mine in the fridge and depending on how fresh it is it can stay up to 4 weeks.
You can tell the freshness of the gourd from its hard exterior shell. As long as there are no soft spots (especially around the stem and bottom) and no bruises, then you are almost guaranteed a fresh squash.
Spaghetti Squash Recipe
Feeds 2 – 4 people as long as you are serving side dishes with the meal. Otherwise, count on half a squash per person you are feeding.
Ingredients:
- Medium-sized spaghetti squash
- 1 tbsp of olive, avocado, or coconut oil
- 1 tsp of Himalayan Pink Salt (or any salt of your choice – sea salt would be my other choice)
Directions:
- Cut the squash in half lengthwise
- Scoop out all the seeds (save for later – you can roast them and eat them like other pumpkin seeds)
- Drizzle the oil over the inside of the two halves
- Sprinkle the salt onto both halves
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
- Place the squash cut side down on the parchment
- Bake on the middle rack for 30-40 minutes until soft to the touch
- Remove from oven and let cool
Once cooled you will use a fork to scrape out the flesh of the spaghetti squash. It will resemble pasta noodles.
Dress with your favorite pasta & meatballs sauce and serve.
This makes an excellent vegan recipe – no meat is required to take advantage of this succulent dinner.
The seeds you scooped out can be sprinkled with some sea salt and roasted in the oven for a great late-night snack.
You can buy the exact ingredients from my recipe on Amazon or Costco to make your delicious spaghetti squash dinner super healthy and delicious from both Amazon or Costco.
In Summary
This post was all about the 3 spaghetti squash benefits, how to store it and how to cook some delicious recipes. We would love to hear from you. How did you enjoy this recipe? Send us a picture of your spaghetti squash meal. What toppings did you use to bring out the best of the spaghetti squash benefits?