2. Canned pumpkin
Take note that canned pumpkin is not the same as “pumpkin pie mix,” Malkani warns. That’s mainly because the pumpkin pie mix usually contains way too much added sugar and more calories. That being said, canned pumpkin is another one of Malkani’s favorites.
“It saves time and can be just as healthy as fresh, as long as you check the ingredient label and choose versions that contain 100 percent pumpkin without added salt, sugar, additives, and preservatives,” she says. Pumpkin is packed with vitamin A, iron, and potassium and adds great flavor and texture to pies, soups, and pancakes, to name a few, Malkani says.
As a plus, pumpkin contains a lot of carotenoids, which actually function as antioxidants and these essential compounds are linked to lower risks of stomach, throat, pancreas and breast cancers.
