Parsnip vs Pumpkin – Which is Healthier?

Our Verdict

When comparing parsnips to pumpkin, we picked the parsnips.

Why?

It wasn’t close:

In terms of macros, parsnips have nearly 10x the fiber for a little over 2x the carbs, and a tiny bit more protein, all adding up to an easy win for parsnips in this category.

In the category of vitamins, parsnips have more of vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E and K, while pumpkin has more vitamin A (whence the color) and B2. It’s worth noting that not only is that division of vitamins already very stacked in favor of parsnips, but also, parsnips have 20x more vitamin K, and are a very good source of that. So, a very clear win for parsnips here.

Looking at minerals next, parsnips have more calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc, while pumpkin has a little more copper and iron. Another rather one-sided win for parsnips.

In other considerations, neither are particularly great for polyphenols, by the standards of most vegetables, but this is not too surprising: root vegetables and squashes are often much lower in polyphenols than most. In any case, a tie in this category.

Want to learn more?

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Sunflower Seeds vs Pumpkin Seeds – Which is Healthier? ← to restore some of pumpkin’s honor 😉

Enjoy!