fall
Pumpkin is not only an excellent food to have in the fall season when you want something festive, but also happens to be very good for you. It is low in fat, but high in taste, so it really does please everyone. Plus, you can also use it in a lot of your clean eating recipes. Here are a few ideas to start out with.
Pumpkin Ice Cream
One of the drawbacks to a clean eating diet is that you are very limited with the type of ice cream you can eat. While there are low-fat ice cream options and even dairy-free ones, they are still not considered clean in most cases. Your best option is to make your own ice cream at home. This includes making a delicious pumpkin ice cream in the fall.
You will start with bananas, which should be frozen, and are often used to make “nice cream”. You can then add in a little pumpkin puree, some pumpkin pie spice, and a little pure maple syrup. It is as simple as blending in a food processor and freezing overnight. Continue reading
If you are interested in using pumpkin for healthy recipes, don’t forget about the seeds!
Also called pepitas, pumpkin seeds contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, are low in fat, and are great for having as a snack or putting on salads.
Here are some things to know about pumpkin seeds:
Loaded with Health Benefits
Pumpkin seeds, like the flesh of a pumpkin, have a lot of vitamins and minerals. They are delicious and wonderful to have in the fall, but don’t forget they are also really good for you. Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of magnesium, which is a type of electrolyte that is good for overall health. Some other nutrients include:
- Zinc, which helps with your immune system and boosts male reproductive health
- Fiber to help with digestive health and weight loss
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Nutrients that help with your prostate and to sleep better
If you are interested in using pumpkin for more of your healthy meals this fall, why not make your own puree?
This can save money and is the cleanest option since nothing is processed and packaged. It is actually a lot simpler than you might think.
Choosing and Prepping the Pumpkin
Before you get to making your pumpkin puree, you have a few preparation steps to begin with. This starts with selecting the right pumpkin.
Keep in mind you are going to be roasting the pumpkin in the oven after cutting it in half or into quarters, so you need it to be small enough to fit properly. It is better to go with multiple smaller pumpkins than just one massive pumpkin, or it is difficult to cut and roast.
After selecting your pumpkin, cut them in half and remove the pulp and seeds from the center. Keep the seeds in a separate bowl if you intend to roast them later. Continue reading
Pumpkin Coconut Soup
When you begin looking at pumpkin soup recipes, you will notice that there are a lot of variations. Some have just pumpkin puree and seasonings, similar to a tomato soup, while others contain extra spices or veggies. Some pumpkin soups are spicy, while others are savory.
This pumpkin coconut soup is a little on the spicier side since it uses curry flavorings in it, though you can always leave that part out. Another great part about this soup is that it contains no dairy, so it is vegan-friendly.
The main ingredients are pumpkin puree, curry powder, seasonings, coconut oil, coconut milk, and onion. You can also add in some vegetable broth for the liquid portion. Continue reading
