fall pumpkin smoothie
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely LOVE smoothies. Smoothies are simple to make. They are packed with delicious & nutritious foods (including some you may not eat unless it was blended with a banana). And they are the best possible fast food.
The only trouble is, as the season shift from warm Spring & Summer weather, a chilly smoothie no longer sounds quite as good. Well, then I’ve got you with this one. This Fall Pumpkin smoothie has warming ingredients won’t leave you feeling chilled like other smoothies.
Warming Ingredients
Ingredients like cinnamon, dates, cloves, & pumpkin are a delicious combination plus have a warming effect according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. “Warming foods have the effects of raising the yang, energy (qi) of organs and warming and improving the circulation and dispelling the cold,” states Ping Ming Health.
You can also vary the actual temperature of this smoothie to your preference. Use a whole, pre-cut and frozen banana for a colder smoothie. Or use a fresh banana with only 1-2 cubes for a warmer or room temperature smoothie. This will further enhance the warming effect of the smoothie.
Best Pumpkin Options
As long as you have the ingredients on hand, this smoothie is incredibly easy to make for a delicious snack, quick breakfast, or lunch! For the pumpkin, I like Pacific Foods Organic Pumpkin or Farmer’s Market Foods canned pumpkin where there is only 1 ingredient: PUMPKIN! Both brands are carried by my local natural foods grocery store or Thrive Market carries the Farmer’s Market brand. If you’re new to Thrive Market and what to try it out (it’s my go-to for all non-perishables), here’s a link for a $25 discount.
Enjoy!
- 1 1/2 cups milk alternative. I like to use homemade cashew milk
- 1 1/2 fresh bananas
- 3/4 cup organic, pureed pumpkin
- 1-2 dates, pitted
- 1 heaping tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (if you don't have it, it's a combination of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, & nutmeg)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- ~2-4 cubes of ice, depending on desired temp of smoothie
- Add all ingredients into a blender.
- Enjoy!