Try butternut squash and give your eyesight a healthy dose of Vitamin A. That’s right, just ½ cup of butternut squash contains 10,630 IU of Vitamin A, which is 354% of an adult’s recommended dietary allowance in one day. Vitamin A is essential for healthy eyesight. Purchase butternut squash that is firm, heavy, and has its stem firmly attached. Avoid squash that are wrinkled, with spots, cuts or bruises.
This squash is also high in many B-Vitamins, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. It is a winter squash, but easily purchased year-round due to the availability to import from warm regions during cool winter months. Butternut squash is well-known for delicious soup recipes, or can simply be served freshly baked without seasoning. It is often used as a stuffing for pasta, too.
To prepare butternut squash, cut off the top (where the stem is located) and then cut it in half lengthwise; scoop out the seeds and stringy inside. It is much easier to peel the squash after roasting. If you are going to sauté the squash, you can purchase butternut squash already peeled and chopped, or you can use a sharp paring knife to peel, and cut into chunks for sautéing. Cooked squash will store for 3-5 days in a refrigerator. Uncut, uncooked squash will store for many weeks in a cool, well ventilated area.
