Making pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving tradition in most households. People can buy premade pies or use canned pumpkin puree, but the healthiest way to put pumpkin pie on your dinner table is to make it from scratch. Hy-Vee Dietitian Melissa Boncher says you can use traditional jack-o-lantern pumpkins, but there are smaller ones called “pie pumpkins” that are sweeter and more ideal for use in pies. Regardless of what kind of pumpkin you use, she says the process is the same. First, you must prepare the pumpkin by washing it, cutting it in half, and scooping out the seeds. The next step is to bake the raw pumpkin until the insides are soft.

Once it’s done cooking, scoop out the flesh and puree it in a food processor, and what you get is a healthier version of what you can find in canned pumpkin. Then it’s a matter of following your favorite recipe to complete the pie. Boncher said pie pumpkins can be found at grocery stores, but they tend to be a popular item this time of year. She knows of a few stores that have already sold out, so she recommends people call the store ahead of time to see if they still have pie pumpkins in stock.