Spaghetti or Squash? | Virginia Family Nutrition Program (2024)

FAQs

What is the nutritional value of a spaghetti squash? ›

Spaghetti squash also contains small amounts of potassium, thiamine, magnesium, folate, calcium, and iron. Spaghetti squash is low in calories but high in pantothenic acid, a B vitamin. It's also a decent source of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6, and niacin.

It Boosts Digestive Health

Spaghetti squash is an excellent source of fiber, with one cup clocking in at 2.2 grams, or 9 percent of a person's daily fiber needs. This helps to promote good digestive health and keep things moving.

A look into essential Vitamins & Minerals, shows that Zucchini Pasta outdoes Spaghetti Squash on every one, except for Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium and Selenium. Information found from SELF's Nutrition Data calculator.

Carbs. A cup of cooked spaghetti squash has 10 grams of carbohydrates with just over 2 grams of fiber. In comparison, a cup of butternut squash has 21.5 grams of carbs and 6.6 grams of fiber;2 a cup of cooked spaghetti noodles has 43 grams of carbs and 2.5 grams of fiber.

Cutting a spaghetti squash can be hazardous because the shell is so hard. For that reason, some people roast them whole in the oven. You can also cook a whole spaghetti squash in a pressure cooker or a slow cooker with a little water.

One cup of spaghetti squash has 40 calories, 10 grams of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of sugar. Spaghetti squash is fat free and one cup provides 2 grams of fiber making it a great alternative to noodles and rice.

The health benefits of spaghetti squash

Like other members of the squash family, the spaghetti squash is high in vitamins and nutritional value. “You're getting tons of vitamin C, vitamin B6, betacarotene and fiber,” Czerwony says.

1. Butternut Squash. One of the most popular varieties of squash, it can be use in so many ways. It's one of the most rich in Vitamin A, boasting about 100% of the recommended daily value per cup, in the antioxidant form of beta-carotene.

Spaghetti squash is a big, yellow vegetable, usually a medium golden yellow in grocery stores. When selecting your spaghetti squash, pick one that's darker golden yellow in color, has a firm rind with no soft spots or cracks, and is heavy for its size (source).

If you are on a low-carbohydrate diet, you may want to limit how often you eat butternut squash—but as far as high-carb veggies go, butternut squash is a good choice due to its low glycemic index.

Is it healthy to eat butternut squash everyday? ›

Consuming plant foods, such as butternut squash, decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and overall mortality. It can also enhance the complexion, increase energy, and contribute to a healthy weight.

Butternut squash contains considerable amounts of fiber, which can help you keep a healthy weight and regulate bowel movements. It's known to help prevent colorectal cancer while the beta-carotene in butternut squash can also improve eye health.

Yes, people living with diabetes can eat spaghetti squash as it is a low-carbohydrate and low-glycemic index vegetable. It can be a healthy substitute for pasta in their diet.

Per serving: (Squash only—Pasta Sauce not included): Calories: 42, Total Fat: 0.4 g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Carbohydrates: 10 g, Fiber: 2.2 g, Sodium: 28 mg *Note: A 2-lb squash yields about four half-cup servings.

Spaghetti contains on average about 200 calories and 42 grams of carbohydrates per serving (2 ounces). However, spaghetti squash contains only 70 calories and around 17 carbohydrates per serving. A serving of spaghetti squash is about 4 ounces, and one spaghetti squash serves four people.