Carotenoids are the pigments responsible for the deep, rich orange color of pumpkins and other vegetables like winter squash and sweet potatoes.

• Beta Carotene, a key nutrient that becomes vitamin A, is found in these foods!
• Beta Carotene is a powerful natural antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage.

Beta Carotene found in deep orange foods:

• Protects against cancer & heart disease
• Strengthens the immune system
• Promotes healthy vision, bones & skin
  

Follow the rainbow to good health!
Aiming for a colorful array of fruits & vegetables on your plate will power-pack your meals with vital vitamins & minerals! The new "5 A Day The Color Way" (www.5aday.com) encourages 5 servings of deeply hued fruits & veggies each day to maintain health and protect against heart disease, aging effects and cancer.

COLOR Your Plate with:

• Blue/Purple: Blueberries, eggplant, plums, dark grapes & raisins
• Green: Broccoli, green pepper, zucchini, avocados, spinach, asparagus & kiwi
• White: Cauliflower, onions & garlic
• Yellow/Orange: PUMPKIN, squash, peaches, carrots, apricots & oranges
• Red: Tomato, red pepper, cherries, apples, watermelon, radishes, beets & strawberries
  

Interesting Pumpkin Facts:

• Pumpkins are actually considered a fruit
• Pumpkin flowers are edible
• Pumpkins seeds can be roasted as a snack
• The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over 5 feet in diameter & weighed over 350 lbs!
• The largest pumpkin grown weighed 1,140 lbs!

Tasty Pumpkin Pie

Serves 8. One serving equals 220 calories, 46g carb, 6g protein, 2g fat


9 inch unbaked pie crust
16-ounce can pumpkin
1-¼ cups fat-free evaporated milk
Whites of 3 large eggs
½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
½ cup non-fat or low-fat whipped topping



Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake pie crust until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.
Preheat oven to 450°F. In large bowl, beat filling ingredients until no lumps remain. Pour into pie crust. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325°F and bake for 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve with a dollop of low fat whipped topping and enjoy!

(Recipe from: www. americanheart.org)

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