People have become more aware of the importance of a healthy, balanced diet in recent years, and which popular foods are high in starch is one thing many consider when designing their meal plans.
What about one of the most beloved fall and winter foods: butternut squash?
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Is Butternut Squash a Starch?
Butternut squash and other winter squashes, such as acorn squash, have a medium starch content. Butternut squash contains more starch than salad greens, cucumbers, and broccoli but less than potatoes or corn.
Therefore, it's a good choice for those following a diet low in starch and carbohydrates, and spaghetti squash or pumpkin contains even less starch.
What Are Squash?
All squash and their close relatives, pumpkin, zucchini, and some gourds, belong to the genus Cucurbita of the Cucurbitaceae family. Vegetables in this genus are seasonal, but there is almost always a variety of squash in season.
Butternut squash is harvested in winter, while zucchini are summer squashes.
Technically, squash are fruit, not vegetables. Fruits contain seeds and develop from flowers, while vegetables are roots, stems, or leaves.
Other fruits that people think of as vegetables are tomatoes, eggplants, and cucumbers, as they are often used in savory dishes.
We tend to connect a savory flavor with vegetables, while fruits are considered sweet.
A common saying is: "Education means knowing that tomatoes are fruit; wisdom means knowing not to put tomatoes in a fruit salad."
The same goes for squashes; although they're a fruit, they're more often in the main course, not dessert. Pumpkin pie is the obvious exception.
What Does It Mean When Foods Contain Starch?
Starch is a carbohydrate consisting of several glucose units. It is manufactured in green leaves and functions as a plant's reserve food supply.
Roots are a plant's food store, so root vegetables like potatoes are high in starch. It's also stored in seeds, such as corn, rice, and wheat.
People on a low-carb diet try to avoid consuming too much starch, but it's best not to cut all high-starch foods from your diet.
Starchy foods supply energy for your brain and muscles and contain fiber, calcium, iron, and B vitamins.
What Is Acrylamide?
You might have heard of the risk of ingesting acrylamide from starchy food. How much your food contains depends on the cooking method.
Acrylamide is a chemical that is created when starchy food is cooked for long periods at high temperatures, and research suggests that it may cause cancer.
Acrylamide can be created when grilling, baking, or frying foods like squash, potatoes, or bread. Aim for a golden brown color rather than burnt to reduce the risk.
Also, never store potatoes in the fridge, as this increases the amount of free sugars. Instead, keep them in a dark, cool place above 6 degrees Celsius.