By Chris Freytag –
I love pumpkins. I know I told you a pumpkin blog was coming and here it is! And P.S. take a peek at my Pumpkin Pinterest board. Pumpkins are versatile and can work in all sorts of recipes—from breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert! Check out the nutritional profile of pumpkin:
Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin
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PER SERVING (1/2 cup): 40 calories, 0.5g fat, 5mg sodium, 9g carbs, 5g fiber, 4g sugars, 2g protein — PointsPlus® value 0
Pumpkins are a great ingredient because they add moisture when you are baking, and when making soup you get the health properties of pumpkins without a pumpkin taste. BOTTOM LINE: Pumpkins are super healthy! Here is why pumpkins are so good for you …
- Pumpkins have vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant.
- A cup of pumpkin has more potassium than a banana.
- Pumpkins are rich in beta carotene, thought to reduce your cancer risk.
- Pumpkins have the amino acid tryptophan to help your production of serotonin and boost your mood.
- Pumpkins are high in fiber (keeping you fuller longer) and low in calories.
Below I’ve put together 9 of my favorite pumpkin recipes you just have to try. Please try the soups, they are my family favorite!
- Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
- FlapJacked Pancakes
- Nuttzo Muffins
- Southwestern Chicken Soup
- Black Bean Pumpkin Soup
- Pumpkin Hummus
- Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
- Pumpkin Pie Mousse
- Yes You Can Cupcakes
Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween! Get creative with pumpkins this November. And if you want a healthy snack, try some yummy pumpkin seeds. (One ounce is packed with protein, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.) Pumpkins are filling and may lower your bad (LDL) cholesterol. Who knew that a pumpkin could do so much good for your body and health!
Do you have a pumpkin recipe you’d like to share? Click here to share it with my recipe community!
Follow Chris Freytag and get inspired to LOVE YOUR WHOLE LIFE! Chris Freytag is a top fitness expert, public speaker, contributing editor to Prevention magazine and an author of several books, including her latest Get Started with Clean Eating: A 14-Day Guide to Better Health! Chris shares her tips weekly on the Minneapolis NBC affiliate and on shows like the Today Show and Lifetime TV. She has created dozens of workout DVDs to keep people motivated and moving. Her latest is HIIT DVD Series. Chris is passionate about helping people live healthier lives, and she works with all groups of adults, kids, and athletes. She also is actively involved with several nonprofit organizations geared towards helping youth get active.
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