A protein-packed, thick and creamy smoothie that tastes like pumpkin pie in a glass!
Happy 1st Day of Fall!! Like so many, fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. Now that I’m well into my eighth month of pregnancy, I am perfectly happy with cooler temps and crisp breezes. Bring on the stretchy pants!
The other great thing about the arrival of is that I no longer have to feel guilty about cooking with pumpkin. Truth is, at just 35 calories per half cup, we eat it all year round in pancakes, oatmeal, muffins, brownies and more.
Pure pumpkin is loaded in nutritional value. Be sure to grab the 100% Pure Pumpkin and not the sweetened pumpkin pie filling. Here are a few reasons why I love cooking with pumpkin:
–Low Calorie: A 1/2 c serving is only 40 calories
-Rich in Dietary Fiber.
-Loaded in Vitamin A which promotes healthy vision and improved immune function.
-Full of Beta-Carotene, a powerful antioxidant.
-Naturally low in sodium.
It’s a great way to add moisture, flavor and nutrients without adding to the waistline. Of course I haven’t seen my waist in a few months but that’s besides the point.
Do you love to bake? Use pure pumpkin in place of half of the required oil. Want an easy snack? Mix it with yogurt and use it as a fruit dip. Craving something creamy? Stir it into low fat ricotta cheese for a lighter alternative to ice cream. Or, try my Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie as a perfect mid-day or post-workout snack. Just one serving provides 5 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein for just 126 calories.
Your straw is waiting
Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup pure pumpkin unsweetened
- 1/2 cup oats old fashioned or quick cooking
- 1 banana
- 1 apple
- 1 cup fat free milk
- 2 scoops scoop vanilla protein powder
- 2 tablespoons flax seed meal
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- pinch salt
- vanilla stevia or natural sweetener of choice to taste
- ice
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients except the ice in a high speed blender and puree until smooth - about 45 seconds.
- Add ice and continue pureeing until you reach desired consistency.
Casey
This smoothie is absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing it!
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad you love it!
Elizabeth
Sipping on my own version of Pumpkin Pie Smoothie while reading your version…looks yummy…like others, I forget to add a scoop or 2 of oatmeal to mine.Thanks for the reminder. It adds great texture and activates your salivary glands and preps your gut to start the digestive juices, so your body will absorb all the great nutrients.
I’m always looking for those smoothie recipes that have a good amount and combination of important nutrients that we all don’t get enough of on a daily basis and I like yours. If I can, I try and sneak in few other goodies like, flax meal, chaga or reishi mushroom, tocotrienols or chia seeds without changing the taste too much.
I bought a couple of cans of organic pumkin puree on Vitacost for a great deal and am so glad to read that you have other pumpkin recipes on the way!
Have a superfood day!
Liz DellaCroce
So glad you enjoyed Elizabeth!! love your food philosophy!! :)
Hannah
Gosh, this makes me wish I could find real pumpkin over here in Taiwan. Maybe I’ll have to use sweet potato or the asian pumpkin they have here. They are super delicious too.
Liz DellaCroce
Butternut squash or sweet potato would be perfect substitutes!!!