PHOTO CREDIT: Sara Remington/Food Stling by Erin Quon/ Prop Styling by Carol Hacker

These squash canoes are great for the kids table this holiday season!

15-minute Recipe:

Cut a 1- to 1-1⁄2-pound acorn squash into quarters. Peel and seed each quarter. Microwave on high in a covered microwave-safe bowl for 6 to 9 minutes or until squash is soft. Top each quarter with 1 teaspoon unsalted butter and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, then drizzle with 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup.

For 2- to 4-year-olds, cut in quarters, half lengthwise and serve. For younger tots, dice squash into small pieces to prevent choking.

Per toddler serving (1 slice = 1⁄8 of one squash): 60 calories, 1 g protein, 10 g carbohydrate, 2 g fat (1 g unsaturated), 305 IU vitamin A, 28 mg calcium, 0.6 mg iron, 3 mg sodium, 2.5 g fiber

Stacy Whitman is a freelance writer and the mother of a 3-year-old boy and newborn twins in Idaho. Kim Galeaz, R.D., is a nutrition and culinary consultant in Indianapolis.