“It’s the great pumpkin, Denee!”

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October 30, 2025

By Alaina K. Yazzie

The great pumpkin indeed, the original indigenous food that withstood the passage of

time through the years, decades, no centuries. You get the point; she’s an old girl.

The pumpkin/gourd/winter squash/technically a fruit and with its hard shell, a Teenage

Mutant Ninja Turtle? No, not a turtle, but a central element in any fall decoration, dinner

or celebration. The pumpkin can be traced back 9,000 years ago in Mesoamerica,

making it the oldest domesticated plant in North America. Interestingly, the pumpkin

9,000 years ago was not a savory dish like it is today but a small and bitter ball of

seeds. The seeds were cultivated, cross-pollinated and planted alongside corn and

beans creating “The Three Sisters” agricultural system.

The pumpkin would undergo an evolutionary course from bitter fruit to a delectable pumpkin pie. Nutritious, balanced, sustaining and well, orange. Power-packed with nutrients from vitamin A; C, fiber, potassium, and beta-carotene creating a powerful antioxidant superfood. Get em’ a cape, it’s ready to fly away and save the day! So, this Halloween, don’t be so quick to discard the leftover pumpkin scraps from the jack o’ lanterns, instead try sprinkling with some brown sugar or cinnamon and bake for 30 minutes for a healthy snack. And just like with the buffalo, the whole pumpkin is useful or edible, ok maybe the buffalo is a bad example.

The flesh and skin when roasted and pureed are the base for many pumpkin dishes. The seeds can be roasted and salted for a quick on-the-go road snack. The blossoms are tender and sweet, a perfect addition to a salad. And the stem, yes, the stem is edible, not what I would call a yummy snack but I’m not here to judge.

So, let’s not forget the greatness of the mighty pumpkin, who is more than just a pretty

face with some missing teeth, but a powerhouse of nutrients.

If you are in search of a pumpkin recipe to try this fall, here is one from Denee.

Not Medical Advice: The information provided does not constitute medical or nutritional advice for individual patients and should not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.