4 ways to use your Halloween pumpkins

With a whopping 7 million tonnes of food waste being produced in the UK each year, this excess of seasonal waste is definitely something that our planet could do without.

So, what can you do with your pumpkins after Halloween is over, and how can you help to rescue the many that otherwise may never make it out of the supermarket? Thankfully there are a multitude of ways you can use these beautiful squashes and I'm going to share a few of them with you below.

1. Eat them

Every part of the pumpkin is edible, other than the stalk. Pumpkins are not only tasty but also super nutritious and are a great source of vitamins A and C, iron, and riboflavin.

Don’t be fooled by the stickers often attached to pumpkins in the supermarket stating they are for decoration purposes only - this is very rarely the case. It’s worth bearing in mind that the smaller pumpkins do tend to be sweeter.

There are loads of great plant-based pumpkin recipes on the internet (try typing it into Pinterest and I guarantee you could waste a whole afternoon!). But to get you started here are different parts of the pumpkin, and what each is best for.

The skin You may be surprised that you can use the skin to make pumpkin crisps! This generally works better with the smaller pumpkins, as the skin of the larger varieties can be a bit tough. All you have to do is tear the skin into pieces (approximately two inches wide) and mix with olive oil and salt. Roast in the oven for approximately 20 minutes. Easy peasy!

The flesh/pulp This is the bit beneath the skin that is often scooped out before carving. This versatile ingredient is the base of so many pumpkin recipes. Some of my favourites include:

Savoury vegan pumpkin recipe ideas: · Pumpkin soup · Pumpkin and sage pasta · Pumpkin risotto · Pumpkin hummus

Sweet vegan pumpkin recipe ideas: · Pumpkin Pie · Pumpkin blondies · Pumpkin donuts · Pumpkin Cheesecake

The fibrous strands (known as endocarp) You can use these bits too!

Boil the strands in a good amount of water to make a thin broth, then strain and mix with apple cider and a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to create a pumpkin cider.

Alternatively, boil the strings with some other chopped veggies and keep the pumpkin stock for soup. You can also cook them like spaghetti squash.

The seeds Never throw away the seeds! Pumpkin seeds, known in many other countries as pepitas, are delicious and super nutritious.

They may be small, but pumpkin seeds are a great source of protein and unsaturated fats, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They also contain iron, calcium, B2, folate and beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A (which is great for your immune system and vision).

Once removed from the pumpkin, the seeds can be washed, dried and roasted. You can do this by tossing them in olive or avocado oil and a sprinkling of salt or you can add a selection of flavourings. Try cayenne pepper for a bit of a kick, or garlic powder, oregano, basil and nutritional yeast for an Italian pizza vibe. You can even make them sweet by adding brown sugar or coconut sugar and cinnamon.

Once flavoured, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake them at 170ºC for about 15-20 minutes.

2. Drink them

Many go wild for a pumpkin spiced latte from a certain popular coffee shop chain at this time of year. But these are easy to make at home - there are a few recipes online, you might want to try this one.

You can also use your pumpkins for hot chocolate and healthy pumpkin smoothies - yum!

3. Put them on your face and body

Pumpkin is great for your skin. It's rich in antioxidants, which can help combat the signs of aging, high in zinc which works as an anti-inflammatory and can soothe acne and redness, and it is packed full of vitamins A and C that will brighten and boost your complexion.

Again, there are loads of ideas online, and Pinterest is your best friend on this one. Try typing in ‘Pumpkin Beauty DIY’ and get ready for a treat!

One of my personal favourites is a pumpkin sugar scrub. Simply mix together one-part pumpkin puree and one-part olive oil with enough brown sugar to give it the amount of exfoliation you require. Rub on to your body while in the bath or shower and then rinse off. Just be wary your bath/shower may be slippery after use.

4. Feed the wildlife

It is not just us humans that can enjoy the benefits of the pumpkin, it’s a nutritious treat for our furry and feathered friends too! Just make sure that there is no mould present before you share (compost your pumpkin remains if this is the case).

Once you have finished with your lantern, cut it into chunks and leave it in the garden for badgers, foxes, and squirrels. This will also go down well with backyard chickens and pigs.

Feed the minibeasts by burying the chunks approximately 25cm deep in your flower beds. Worms and insects will not only delight in their festive meal, but this also allows the nutrients to get put straight back into your soil.

And for our feathered friends we have the seeds. Clean and dry your seeds and cook for about ten minutes (with no added oils/ flavourings) and add them to your bird feeders. You may want to break some up into pieces to help out the smaller birds.

Often around this time there are local animal sanctuaries who are in need of additional food for their animals so keep an eye on their social media and website for pumpkin call outs!

So there we have it, so many options and no more excuses to let the mighty pumpkin end up in the landfill.

For more tips on how to live a more compassionate lifestyle, as well as updates on our campaigns, join us and receive our emails.