Squash is more than just an essential piece of holiday décor. Sure, no Halloween is complete without a pumpkin and you could never set the Thanksgiving table without a squash-filled cornucopia, but the thing about squash is that it's actually quite edible. And it packs quite a nutritious punch.

There are so many varieties of squash that you can eat them all fall without getting bored — or resorting to crazy huge portions of ratatouille to use up the remains of your vegetable garden. Check out all the delicious and nutritious reasons that your goal should be to eat more squash.

Pretty much all varieties of squash are super high in nutrients including Vitamin A and C, magnesium, fiber, folate, riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium and Vitamin B6. Squash also contains manganese, which aids in your body's processing of fats, carbohydrates, and glucose.

All the nutrients benefit the body by:

• Boosting eyesight
• Improving skin health
• Strengthening the immune system
• Preventing cancer
• Managing symptoms of diabetes
• Building strong bones
• Protecting heart health
• Reducing symptoms of insomnia
• Preventing inflammation that leads to disease
• Treating arthritis
• Eliminating ulcers
• Eradicating parasites and infections
• Aiding prostate health
• Protecting against birth defects
• Improving PMS symptoms, including mood swings and cramps
• Benefiting respiratory health
• Lowering blood pressure

Squash is a surprisingly versatile vegetable, making it easy to get a boost of nutrition with any meal. Recipes exist for everything from decadent pumpkin pies to frying it up tempura style or chopping it up for pasta filling. You can also puree it into a healthy soup, bake it, roast it, stuff it with veggies, ground meet or quinoa or even make them into a slaw or sauce. And of course, roasting the seeds makes for a healthy snack during your Netflix binge.

[Image via Getty]