Is it allowed in the pre contest diet? If so, when...with the carb up meal or as a fibrous vegetable with a lean meat?

That's an interesting question, it's from the squash family. A few years ago, I was making some nut breads and pumpkin pies for the Holidays and notice the nutrients on the labels. I've made a few soups with it. GOOD, too!

Canned...if you're body building, I would say to drop it 6 weeks out. Otherwise, I'd say use it as a veggie.

I compete in Figure. I do love pumpkin with a little cinnamon and stevia and a sprinkle of cloves. I also like making soup out of it,love it. Anything pumpkin I love and it has a good amount of potassium and fiber in it and it's very low in calorie. I've used it in Cookies, cake, pie, bread, soup, stew.

I'm 6 weeks out as of yesterday so maybe I should drop it for now.

Thanks,
Patricia

I've been eating the heck out of pumpkin and US lately. I swear I could it it twice a day. I'm glad to hear competitors are eating it. Let's me know I'm doing ok.

If you're pre contest (closer than about 8 weeks out), especially if you still need to lose fat or aren’t where you want to be, it's really not a good idea to add anything that's not already listed on your plan or your master food list.

Pumpkin is a healthy food, but it wouldn't be a replacement for your green veggie choices. You could use it on occasion during your carb meal in place of a sweet potato, but it’s not the best carb choice either. It’s more of an off season food.

Comparison:

Pumpkin – 1 cup
83 cals
20 carbs
9 sugars

Sweet Potato – about the same amount
105 cals
24 carbs
12 sugars

Green Beans – 1 cup
27 cals
6 carbs
1 sugar