The word pumpkin means “large melon.” Pumpkin can be eaten raw or cooked, but the majority of its nutrients will be received when eaten raw. Most people don’t think of a pumpkin as a fruit, but one criterion for something to be considered a fruit is the fact that seeds are present. The fact that a pumpkin is full of seed is what makes it correctly classified as a fruit.

In fact, pumpkins contain a bunch of seeds that can be eaten roasted or as a decorative garnish in other dishes. Stranger still is the fact that pumpkins are not always orange. Recently I have been introduced to the albino pumpkin. I always thought they were painted white but alas, I found out this is not the case. These albino pumpkins are naturally white.

Pumpkins can also appear as red, purple, or green. What would the fall season be like with red or purple pumpkins all over the place? Oh, well, there are enough orange ones around that things won’t change any time soon.