Butternut Squash Medley

Article written and reviewed by Robby Barbaro, MPH
Published December 19, 2025

A Colorful, Satisfying Bowl That Nourishes From the Inside Out

This Butternut Squash Medley is a perfect example of how simple, whole foods can come together to create something deeply satisfying. With roasted squash, sweet peas, fresh vegetables, and hearty black beans, this bowl delivers a wide range of flavors, textures, and nutrients in every bite.

It’s light yet filling, refreshing yet grounding — the kind of meal that leaves you energized instead of weighed down. Whether you’re looking for a nourishing lunch or an easy dinner that supports stable blood sugar, this medley checks every box.

Butternut Squash: A Slow-Digesting Carb That Supports Steady Energy

Butternut squash is naturally rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber, making it an excellent source of clean, slow-releasing energy. Unlike refined carbohydrates, squash digests gradually, helping prevent sharp blood sugar spikes and crashes.

It’s also packed with beta-carotene and vitamin C, antioxidants that support immune health and cellular repair. When roasted, its natural sweetness intensifies, creating a satisfying base for a balanced, plant-powered meal.

Black Beans and Peas: Fiber-Rich Plant Protein for Blood Sugar Balance

Black beans and green peas add both texture and staying power to this dish. Beans are one of the most well-studied foods for improving insulin sensitivity thanks to their high soluble fiber and resistant starch content.

Together, these legumes help slow digestion, improve satiety, and support smoother glucose responses after meals, making them a foundational food in the Mastering Diabetes approach.

Fresh Vegetables and Sprouts for Crunch, Hydration, and Micronutrients

Cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, mixed greens, and broccoli sprouts bring freshness and crunch to balance the warmth of the roasted vegetables. These water-rich foods help increase meal volume without adding excess calories, while delivering minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that support overall metabolic health.

Broccoli sprouts, in particular, are known for their concentration of beneficial plant compounds that support cellular health and detoxification pathways.

Bring It All Together

This Butternut Squash Medley is proof that eating for blood sugar balance doesn’t require complicated recipes or restrictive rules. With fiber-rich carbohydrates, plant protein, and a rainbow of vegetables, this meal supports steady energy, digestion, and long-term metabolic health — all while tasting fresh and satisfying.

Butternut Squash Medley

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 2
Calories 349 kcal

Ingredients
 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (410g) Butternut Squash (cubed) - About 1 small squash
  • ½ cup (86g) Black Beans (cooked, drained and rinsed) - About ½ of a 15-ounce can½½
  • 2 (107g) Roma Tomatoes (medium-sized)
  • 2 cups (298g) Orange Bell Pepper - About 2 ½ medium-sized bell peppers
  • 2 cups (240g) Cucumber - About 1 medium-sized cucumber
  • 2 cups (70g) Mixed Greens - Available in 5-ounce containers
  • 2 cups (290g) Sweet Peas (fresh or frozen) - Available in 10-ounce bags
  • 1 tsp (2g) Black Pepper - Available in spice jars
  • 1 tbsp (1g) Cilantro - About 1 small bunch
  • 1 oz (28g) Broccoli Sprouts - Available in 3-ounce containers
  • 1 tbsp (20g) Sriracha Sauce - Available in 9-ounce bottles

Instructions
 

Directions

  • Preheat the oven at 350°C. Place the cubed squash and sweet peas in a large bowl and toss with a generous amount of fresh cracked black pepper. Place on a cooking sheet and bake for 60 minutes, until the squash is soft and slightly browned.
  • Slice the cucumber and tomatoes with your preferred thickness. Slice the bell pepper in half.
  • Drain the black beans and rinse thoroughly.
  • Place the mixed greens in a bowl first. Add the cucumbers, tomatoes, and baked squash with peas. Stuff the bell pepper with the black beans and place in the bowl.
  • Garnish with broccoli sprouts and chopped cilantro. Top with sriracha sauce and enjoy!

Notes

  • Extra Flavor: Top with lemon slices, or spices like chile powder, curry powder, cumin, or add your favorite vinegar.

Nutrition

Calories: 349kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 18gFat: 1.7gFiber: 24g

Lower Your A1c and Fasting Blood Sugar... Guaranteed

Your results are guaranteed. Join more than 10,000 ecstatic members today

Personalized coaching puts you in immediate control of your diabetes health, helps you gain energy, improves your quality of life, and reduces or eliminates your meds.

About the author 

Robby Barbaro, MPH

Robby Barbaro, MPH is a New York Times bestselling co-author of Mastering Diabetes: The Revolutionary Method to Reverse Insulin Resistance Permanently in Type 1, Type 1.5, Type 2, Prediabetes, and Gestational Diabetes.

Robby was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 12 and has been living this lifestyle since 2006. In that time, while eating pounds of fruit every day, his HbA1c has been stable with a current A1c of 5.3%, TIR of 92%, and average total daily insulin use of 30 units.

Robby graduated from the University of Florida and is the cofounder of Mastering Diabetes and Amla Green. He worked at Forks Over Knives for six years before turning his attention in 2016 to coaching people with diabetes full time.

He is the co-host of the annual Mastering Diabetes Online Summit, a featured speaker at VegFest LA, and has been featured on The Doctors, Forks Over Knives, Vice, Thrive Magazine, Diet Fiction, and the wildly popular podcasts the Rich Roll Podcast, Plant Proof, MindBodyGreen, and Nutrition Rounds.

Robby enjoys exercising every day, spending time with friends, and sharing his lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.