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Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe
This delightful pumpkin smoothie recipe is like chilled pumpkin pie in a glass, but without the unhealthy fats and excess calories.
This thick and creamy smoothie makes a delicious and filling liquid breakfast, snack or dessert. By the way, this recipe works beautifully with a squash puree too. (It will provide a nice break from all the green smoothie recipes for those of you who need it ;-). )
Chia Seed Smoothie Ideas
I think I’m in love. With small black and white seeds, called chia.
I’ve been adding chia seeds to my smoothies for quite some time, but I’ve never tried them on their own. So recently, I made a few version of chia seed puddings – and I was amazed how much I liked them. (My son approved them too, which is also important!)
You can check out this chia pudding here, but you can also simply a teaspoon of seeds to any smoothie for a chia-enriched drink. You’ll reap the amazing health benefits (including lots of healthy protein and fats that will help you bring your blood sugar levels to normal and prevent heart disease), even if the taste and texture will be lost.
For a simple chia seed smoothie idea, combine blueberries, bananas, spinach and chia seeds combined to these pretty purple smoothie.
Out of bananas? If you’re out of bananas, don’t like bananas, or are just looking to reduce the sugar content of your smoothie a bit, add a tablespoon of chia seeds instead!
Chia Seed Pudding: Recipe with Vanilla and 100% Vegan
Chia seed recipes, such as this chia seed pudding, are all the rage lately, and for good reason. Chia seeds, when combined with water, juice, or milk, gel up and thicken, creating the most delightful smooth, tapioca-like texture that is perfect for puddings, smoothies and other desserts.
Chia pudding a quick and easy breakfast or snack (no cooking required!) is the perfect option when you are on the go. It features nutrient-rich chia seeds, rich in fiber, anti-oxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s a definite upgrade from processed breakfast cereals or commercial puddings!
What’s interesting is that chia is an ancient crop that is experiencing a renaissance. The little black and white seeds used to be a staple of the Incan, Mayan and Aztec cultures, along with the Native Americans of the southwest.
Many chia pudding recipes call for soaking the seeds whole, resulting in a tapioca-like texture. Another option is to simply blend all ingredients in a blender for a more uniform, creamy porridge.
Banana Almond Butter Smoothie: Super Creamy Sensation!
Simple banana smoothie recipes are great, but wait till you try this banana-almond butter smoothie! I started adding nut butters to my son’s smoothies, and now I’m getting addicted to them.
If you never tried adding almond butter, or peanut butter or other nut butter to a smoothie, you are in for a treat!
The banana-peanut butter smoothie combination may be the most popular variation of this recipe, but don’t stop there. Hazelnut, macadamia, cashew butter, tahini, sunflower, pumpkin, etc. – adding any of this will make your smoothie deliciously rich, creamy and distinctly buttery. Plus, the fats in these butters will help with absorption of nutrients, and slow down the release of the fruit sugar into your bloodstream (great for people with high blood-sugar level issues).
Sample Plant-Powered Menu: Protein Blueberry Smoothie & Warming Carrot Soup
Some readers have been asking me for menu suggestions.
Here is a sample day’s menu that is loaded with healthy foods:
Morning/Breakfast: Protein Blueberry Smoothie, Oatmeal (if still hungry)
Lunch/Snack: Curried Carrot Soup (with a side salad or a slice of whole wheat bread)
Dinner: Veggie burger (store bought or home made), potatoes, salad
Dessert: Home-made banana ice-cream
Curried Carrot Soup
Delightfully bright, this carrot soup recipe is packed with goodness. I like to add freshly made carrot juice, but it’s an extra step (and more cleanup), so feel free to skip it and just add a bit more water or non-dairy milk.
Freshly grated ginger gives this sweet carrot puree an extra kick of flavor and takes up the heat a notch (my 9-year-old didn’t appreciate that, so next time I’ll skip it for a milder taste). For some crunch, add a garnish of toasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or pine nuts.
