With the holidays right around the corner, we all look forward to those iconic dishes that have been in the family for years and years. One dish that a lot of families indulge in over the holidays is baked sweet potatoes (you know the kind with the marshmallows on top?). While that is quite the treat, marshmallows contain little to no nutritional value and add unnecessary sugar. Check out our recipe below by our Registered Dietician, Jeannie, for a more nutritious and equally delicious dish!
Some of our favorite health benefits of acorn squash are:
- Reduces the risk of osteoporosis and aids in the strengthening of bones
- Helps eliminate cramping and bloating
- Boosts the immune system
Try out this recipe at home to serve as a side dish or add protein to make it an entree! This recipe is perfect for fall.
Ingredients:
- 2 large acorn squash, halved
- 2 large or 4 medium yams (sweet potatoes)
- Cinnamon and grated nutmeg, to taste
- 3 tbsp Organic Coconut Oil
Directions:
Bake the squash and yams for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until tender. Scoop out the squash from the skins and place in a large mixing bowl or food processor. Remove the yam flesh from the skins and add to the squash. Add the spices, and coconut oil and blend. Top with walnuts if desired and salt to taste.
About Functional Medicine and Clinical Nutrition
Functional Medicine is an approach to healthcare that seeks to identify and address the root cause of health concerns, illness and disease. Practitioners of functional medicine conduct thorough histories and utilize specialized tests in order to understand the unique interactions between a patient’s genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors that influence health. Treatment is individualized and cooperative and is designed to not just relieve symptoms, but promote and optimize wellness. The goal of Functional Medicine is to assess the root cause of your problems, and then to help affect a sustainable lifestyle change so you can lead a happier healthier life. To learn more or to book an appointment, click here.
About Jeannie Gorman, MS, CCN, LDN
Jeannie Gorman, MS, CCN, LDN Registered Dietitian
Jeannie holds a Masters degree in Human Nutrition Functional Medicine from the University of Western States, Portland, OR. She is a Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist, and IL Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. Jeannie combines her passion for natural health strategies, knowledge of condition-specific clinical nutrition and lifestyle protocols, and how vitamins and mineral levels affect health to fully support patients to achieve their goals. She takes pride in being on a Functional Medicine team that sees lives change for the better by healing and preventing chronic disease. Her approach to clinical nutrition is built on a mosaic of educational experiences, bringing an appreciation of bio-individuality. Her dedication to sound nutrition principles is rewarded when patients respond to the right foods and food-based supplementation in the right amount at the right time, deepening an appreciation for the wisdom of the body’s ability to heal.
