There are two kinds of people in the world:
- People who get excited for pumpkin spice season
- People who are wrong
If you fall into the first category – congratulations, you’re awesome! And if not…may the power of Christ compel you.
The Power of Pumpkin
If you love pumpkin spice, the good news is that pumpkin is a nutritional powerhouse. In a mere 45 calories per half-cup, it packs 4 grams of fiber, a modest amount of carbs, iron, and over 300% of your RDA for Vitamin A.
As one of the fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin A is important for vision, growth, immune function, reproduction & skin health. It also plays a role in keeping the lungs, heart, kidneys & other major organs functioning properly.
And if you spend time being active outdoors, you definitely want to keep your ticker in tip-top shape.
But if you want to indulge in the flavors of pumpkin pie without having to bake one or wait until Thanksgiving, you’re in luck. Because all you need are a few simple ingredients to recreate the delicious flavors of that delectable dessert.
And the great thing about smoothies is that they’re (nearly) impossible to screw up. Unlike baking, it’s more of an art than a science, so you can adjust the flavors and amounts to suit your liking.
Though you can make it for breakfast or a post-adventure snack, you could also get away with enjoying it for dessert (or encouraging others to enjoy a healthy treat) by calling it a “pumpkin pie milkshake.”
It’s all in the power of marketing!
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
1 chopped apple*
1/3 to 1/2 cup canned pumpkin*
1 scoop protein powder
(I used a mix of vanilla whey & brown rice protein, but you can use anything you want)
3/4 to 1 cup milk, kefir, or nondairy alternative
(I often use a combination of all of these to mix up the flavors)
Dash of cinnamon & pumpkin pie spice to taste
Not that you need me to tell you this, but…place it all in a blender or bullet & blend until smooth.
If you like a little crunch, you can always top it with a little granola or cinnamon-spiked roasted chickpeas. Or if you’d like a frostier treat, you can freeze the pumpkin in an ice cube tray and lightly thaw it before blending.
*And one final pro-tip: refrigerate your apple and canned pumpkin before you use it, or your smoothie will end up room temperature. If that doesn’t bother you, then not to worry. But if it does, make sure they’re cool before you add them or plan to refrigerate it for a bit after you make it.