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REALLY INSIDE. JUST LIKE A JACK O LANTERN. SOME PUMPKINS CAN WEAR A DISGUISE. THERE’S A SECRET HIDING IN THIS. CAN YOU PROBABLY EXPECT THERE TO BE A PUMPKIN INSIDE, RIGHT? BUT DON’T BE SCARED. INSTEAD, IT’S MORE LIKELY TO CONTAIN A VARIETY OF SQUASH LIKE THESE, EVEN IF THE CAN SAYS 100% PUMPKIN, IT’S PROBABLY A MIX OF PUMPKIN AND OTHER GOLDEN SQUASH, WHICH IS ACTUALLY DENSER AND SWEETER. THE FDA HAS ALLOWED IT TO BE CALLED PUMPKIN SINCE 1938, BUT THIS TRICK IS STILL A TREAT. HONESTLY. SPICES. YOU ADD LIKE CINNAMON, NUTMEG, GINGER, AND CLOVES THAT GIVE YOUR BAKED GOODS THAT DELICIOUS PUMPKIN SPICE FLAVOR AND ENJOYING PUMPKIN IS A GOOD THING. WHETHER IT’S FRESH OR CANNED. PUMPKIN AND SQUASH ARE SUPER HEALTHY. THEY’RE RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS, AND ONE CUP HAS AS MUCH VITAMIN A AS YOU NEED IN A DAY OR MORE. AND DON’T FEEL BAD ABOUT CHOOSING CANNED PUMPKIN OVER FRESH A CUP OF CANNED HAS TWICE AS MUCH FIBER AS FRESH PUMPKIN, AND IT’S LOADED WITH IRON. BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T CONFUSE CANNED PUMPKIN WITH CANNED PUMPKIN PIE MIX. PUMPKIN PIE MIX CAN HAVE ABOUT 48G OF ADDED SUGAR PER CUP, AND PUMPKIN DOESN’T JUST NEED TO BE FOR DESSERT. PUMPKIN CAN BE A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR MORNING SMOOTHIE. DROP IN A FEW TABLESPOONS WITH SOME GREEK YOGURT, A BANANA, A LITTLE MILK, AND SOME CINNAMON. IT’S A HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS START TO YOUR DAY AND SO SQUASH PIE DOESN’T HAVE THE SAME APPETIZING RING AS PUMPKIN PIE, BUT IT TASTES JUST AS GOOD. SO WE’VE BEEN EATING SQUASH THIS WHOLE TIME.

Consumer Reports: What’s really inside canned pumpkin?

Fall is in the air, or is that scent pumpkin bread, muffins, and of course, pumpkin pie? Those are all recipes that depend on that little can of pumpkin. It might sound like a silly question, but do you really know what’s in the can? You probably expect there to be pumpkin inside, right? But don’t be scared – instead, it’s more likely to contain a variety of different kinds of golden squash, which is denser and sweeter. The FDA has allowed it to be called pumpkin since 1938.But this trick is still a treat. Honestly, you probably can’t tell the difference because it’s the spices you add, like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, that give your baked goods that delicious “pumpkin spice” flavor. And enjoying pumpkin is a good thing! Whether it’s fresh or canned, pumpkin and squash are super healthy. They’re rich in antioxidants, and one cup has as much vitamin A as you need in a day or more. And don’t feel bad about choosing canned pumpkin over fresh. A cup of canned has twice as much fiber as fresh pumpkin and is loaded with iron. But whatever you do — don’t confuse canned pumpkin with canned pumpkin pie mix. Pumpkin pie mix can have about 48 grams of added sugar per cup.Pumpkin doesn’t just need to be for dessert. Canned pumpkin can be a great addition to your morning smoothie. Drop in a few tablespoons with some Greek yogurt, a banana, a little milk and some cinnamon. It’s a healthy and delicious start to the day.

Fall is in the air, or is that scent pumpkin bread, muffins, and of course, pumpkin pie?

Those are all recipes that depend on that little can of pumpkin. It might sound like a silly question, but do you really know what’s in the can?

You probably expect there to be pumpkin inside, right? But don’t be scared – instead, it’s more likely to contain a variety of different kinds of golden squash, which is denser and sweeter. The FDA has allowed it to be called pumpkin since 1938.

But this trick is still a treat. Honestly, you probably can’t tell the difference because it’s the spices you add, like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, that give your baked goods that delicious “pumpkin spice” flavor.

And enjoying pumpkin is a good thing! Whether it’s fresh or canned, pumpkin and squash are super healthy. They’re rich in antioxidants, and one cup has as much vitamin A as you need in a day or more. And don’t feel bad about choosing canned pumpkin over fresh. A cup of canned has twice as much fiber as fresh pumpkin and is loaded with iron.

But whatever you do — don’t confuse canned pumpkin with canned pumpkin pie mix. Pumpkin pie mix can have about 48 grams of added sugar per cup.

Pumpkin doesn’t just need to be for dessert. Canned pumpkin can be a great addition to your morning smoothie. Drop in a few tablespoons with some Greek yogurt, a banana, a little milk and some cinnamon. It’s a healthy and delicious start to the day.