Zucchini or Squash? Squash or Zucchini? What's the difference?

Green zucchini

Whenever I heard people say zucchini and squash, I never realized
that it was actually the same thing.  Zucchini is squash and squash is zucchini!  They are related to both the melon and the cucumber and come in many different varieties.  Even though they can differ in shape, color, size and flavor, they all share one common characteristic – You can eat the entire vegetable, including its flesh, seeds and skin.  For some squash plants the flowers they produce are also edible.  The best squash are the summer variety.  The zucchini is the narrow squash that looks like a cucumber in shape and can come in green or yellow in color and can actually have stripes or specks.  The Crooked neck and straight neck squash generally have yellow skins.  The natural state of this squash is crooked (swan like neck) while their straight neck cousin has been genetically engineered to lose the crooked neck shape.  The Pattypan Squash looks like a saucer with wavy edges.  This can come in green or a golden yellow.  This is probably my favorite of the summer squashes because it’s a bit sweeter in flavor than the others.   Squash is great sautéed, grilled and raw and especially delicious as bread!  It’s filling, satisfying and really, really good for you.

Pattypan and Straight

Zucchini is very low in calories and high in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant and can provide protection against cardiovascular disease, and even cure asthma (due to anti-inflammatory properties).  This vegetable helps to prevent diseases like scurvy and bruising because of the Vitamin C.  Other nutrients include foliate, potassium and Vitamin A necessary for proper functioning of the human body.  Lutein coupled with the vitamin C is great for your eyes and vision.  Vitamin B6, riboflavin, manganese and phosphorus helps the body in the arrangement of capillaries and the building of healthy bones.  Manganese also helps to support a healthy immune system.  It aids in the digestion and use of essential fatty acids which is crucial for developing natural antibodies.  Magnesium in the vegetable has roles n increasing energy, metabolism along with improving muscle contractions and nerve impulse transmission.  Regular consumption can be beneficial in the prevention of colon cancer, heart disease and protects the cells from oxidation damage.

Crooked Neck 

Wild squash originated in an area between Guatemala and Mexico.  It has been consumed for over 10,000 years now and was first cultivated for their seeds because early squash was bitter and didn’t have much flesh to eat.  As time progressed, squash cultivation spread through the Americas and better varieties with sweeter tasting flesh were developed.  Christopher Columbus brought squash back to Europe from the New World.  Portuguese and Spanish explorers introduced their cultivation throughout the world.  Today the largest commercial producers of squash include China, Japan, Romania, Turkey, Italy, Egypt and Argentina.

I was surprised not to find California on the list, with all the squash and zucchini varieties sold at the Farmers Market each week!  Bon Appétit!

written by Autumn, 15 - El Camino High School

The Power Packed Pomegranate! Ultra-Healthy and Delicious!

As we enter the season of colds and flues, there is no better natural substance than the pomegranate!  This strange fruit with red rough skin and packed with tiny ruby-red juicy seeds is loaded with anti-oxidant nutrients, which act as an excellent immune booster.  Drinking pomegranate juice at the onset of a cold is a great way to prevent it from getting worse.  The anti-inflammatory agents in pomegranate juice will also significantly reduce the soreness and redness of your sore throat.


Pomegranates are categorized as a “super food” because of their many health benefits.  Other agents found in pomegranate juice have been found to fight against the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) by reducing the oxidation of the bad (LDL) cholesterol that clogs and clots and causes hardening of the arteries.  In fact studies have shown that regular consumption of pomegranates can actually reverse the progression of this disease, protecting and healing you from blood vessel damage.

As I researched further, I learned that other studies positively proved that pomegranates contain a powerful agent against cancer, such as breast cancer and especially prostate cancer.  The anti-oxidant content protects the cells from damage of free radicals, keeping cancer at bay.