Calories in Acorn Squash

The acorn is a type of winter squash that has yellow-orange flesh and sweet taste. It has longitudinal ridges over the surface and is green in color. The squash can be easily grown at home. Information on the number of calories present in cooked, baked and raw acorns is presented in the paragraphs below.

Acorn Squash - Introduction
Squash is a nutritious food and it (winter squash) forms an important part of the Native American diet. It belongs to Cucurbitaceae family and its botanical name is Cucurbita pepo. Squash was initially mistaken for melon by Europeans settlers in America. In earlier times, winter squashes were grown only for their seeds. Pulp of these squashes was not consumed because of its bitter taste. Later on, squashes were grown for their sweet taste. The acorn squash is normally green in color however, some of the new varieties possess splashes of yellow and orange color on the surface. Average weight of these newer varieties is between 1-3 pounds. Squashes are used as a substitute for pumpkin. The acorn squash is used in pumpkin-pie recipes and also for soups in the form of puree. Since the size of acorn squashes is small, it is one of the reasons why this winter squash is preferred over other types. The acorn squash can be cooked in different ways i.e. by baking, keeping in microwaves, stuffing, etc.

Acorn Squash Calories
The acorn squash is a nutritious food that contains a high amount of fibers. There are 40 calories present in raw acorn squash per 100 grams of weight. A medium-sized acorn squash contains 172 calories, 45 g carbohydrates, 3 g proteins, 13 mg sodium, and no fats or cholesterol.

The acorn squash can be either boiled or baked for eating. Calories that remain in acorn squash after boiling are much lesser than after baking. The baked squash contains 56 calories/100 grams, while 34 calories are present in a boiled one. Here is a list of food recipes of acorn squash and the calories contained in them.

• Acorn Squash and Apple Soup: The 'Acorn Squash and Apple Soup' dish contains 133 calories in a single serving (331 g). Other nutrients present in the dish include dietary fibers (5%), fats (4%), carbohydrates (8%), cholesterol (2%), etc.
• Acorn Squash and Wild Rice: The total number of calories present in one serving (200 g) of this dish are 150. Other nutrients present in squash are fats (5%), dietary fibers (16%), cholesterol (0%), proteins (11%), carbohydrates (9%), etc.
• Acorn Squash Rings: The 'Acorn Squash Rings' contain 15 calories in a single serving (of 17 g). Carbohydrates (1%), Vitamin C (6%), Sodium (1%) are the other nutrients present in this dish.

Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar
The acorn squash mixed with brown sugar contains 122 calories per serving. Out of the 122 calories, 11 calories are contributed by 1 tsp. of brown sugar. A single tbsp. of butter spread adds 25 calories to the dish; the remaining 86 calories are contributed by acorn squash.

The information about calories in acorn squash present in different dishes provide us a rough idea about what to consume and what not. Squash being a nutritious food it needs to be incorporated in the regular diet.