An Autumn Smoothie

September 30, 2013 by courtneyschwegel 1 Comment

Fall is here and I’m celebrating by doing all I can to stay warm and cozy. I’ve been making wonderful soups and stews, roasting a ton of root veggies and sipping steamy mugs of tea. It’s amazing how a seasonal shift makes a world of difference in what the body wants.

Needless to say, the last thing my body feels like is an icy, fruity smoothie when I wake up to a chilly, rainy Vancouver morning. During the summer, my nutrient rich, refreshing smoothies were light and balancing, helping to cool and cleanse my body. But with the change in season, I want warming foods and spicy fall flavours while still being able to enjoy the convenience of blitzing my breakfast every now and again.

Behold, the pumpkin spice smoothie! This wonderful breakfast may still be cold in temperature, but the spices together with the creaminess of the pumpkin satisfy my cravings for rich foods and warming flavours.  Plus, it is completely delicious. I mean, come on, it tastes like pumpkin pie!

Since I have started my Natural Nutrition program I have been super interested in the nutrient profiles of the foods I eat. Here’s a rundown on some of the healthful goodness that you’re getting in this smoothie:

Pumpkin – high in Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A), which boosts  immunity, aids in eye health and acts as an antioxidant

Oat bran – a great source of soluable fibre that works to stabalize blood sugar levels and possibly reduce LDL cholesterol

Hemp seeds – a great source of plant-based protein containing all eight essential amino acids

MCT (medium chain triglycerides) oil – an incredible source of easily accessible  steady energy and an amazing metabolism booster

Now that you have an idea of just how good this is for you, go make it!

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Ingredients:

I cup almond milk or other dairy free milk                        1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 a frozen banana                                                              2 tbsp oat bran

2 tbsp hemp seeds                                                                1 tbsp ground flax or chia seeds

1 tbsp MCT oil or coconut oil                                               1/4 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp ground ginger                                                             A pinch each of nutmeg and cloves

1 tsp pure maple syrup OR 1-3 drops of stevia OR 1 medjool date

Method:

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blitz away!

HAPPY AUTUMN!