We all have our favourite winter food we like to tuck into as the nights draw in, but could eating  ‘superfood’ give you special powers to get through your shift and avoid the post sugary snack crash?

What is a superfood?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a superfood is a “nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being”.

And the superfood of the month is….

of course, pumpkin.  Halloween presents the perfect opportunity to stockpile your squash at the same time as carving out a scary face.

What is pumpkin supposed to do?

Pumpkin is famous for giving you better night vision.

Is Pumpkin really a superfood?

Just a cup of Pumpkin contains twice the recommended levels of Vitamin A, which helps you see better in dim light. Vitamin A is also really good for your bones and skin and Pumpkin seed oil can help lower blood pressure.

Pumpkin could also give you going on your shift longer. It has 3 grams of fibre per cup, only 50 calories and gives you more energy per gram than bananas. Plus – it’s full of Vitamin C to help protect against colds.

Added to all of that – pumpkin contains beta-carotene, which may help protect against cancer as an antioxidant – and contains the amino acid, tryptophan, which helps promote better sleep. We don’t think you’ll find a better superfood for shift workers!

What do I do with it?

Pumpkin is versatile and is great in risottos, roasted with herbs, in omelettes, in pie and as part of a stew, but we really like this winter warmer from the BBC . Pumpkins are great in soups as they add natural sweetness and creaminess and this one makes 6 portions – enough to keep you going all week.

A pumpkin’s not just for Halloween

Supermarkets in the UK tend to stock pumpkin in the 8-12 weeks before Halloween on 31st October, but pumpkin is just one of the Autumn squash family of foods. Many good greengrocers and supermarkets stock other varieties, such as Summer Squash, Butternut Squash, and Winter Squash from August to February.

Pumpkin is in season from September to December if you fancy growing your own. That might be a topic for another blog.

Whatever you’re doing this Halloween, we hope you have a happy one!