Pumpkin Recipe Roundup!

HUMP DAYYYY everyone!!! Happy Wednesday!! 🙂 This morning began with some delicious “Grue-berry” Oatmeal.

I took grapes and blueberries. So it became “Grueberry”. Get it? 😉

(Photo can be found on my Instagram)

It’s still really hot out, but hey, it’s never too early for pumpkin recipes right? I just bought some pumpkin pie spice at the grocery store yesterday and I can’t wait to use it again. In a couple of months the crisp air will blow in, the sweaters will come out, and the cozy pumpkin spice lattes will be in every hand of the people on my campus. Thank God for Starbucks…

And speaking of pumpkin, welcome to the first recipe roundup on A Dancer’s Live-It!! 🙂 From breakfast to dessert and everything in between, add some fall flavor to your favorite dishes. Pumpkin is the secret ingredient: delicious and nutritious! Here are 5 pumpkin recipes from Cleveland Clinic that you should try this fall:

1. Pumpkin Lentil Soup – This is the perfect pumpkin soup to keep you warm on a cool fall day. Made with red lentils and lots of veggies, this soup is packed with nutrients and sure to keep you satisfied for hours.
2. Pumpkin Pancakes – Treat your family to this delicious pumpkin morning meal. With non-fat milk, whole wheat flour and egg substitute among the ingredients, these are a sweet and healthy low-cal alternative.
3. Healthier Pumpkin Pie – A perfect pumpkin pie for your holiday gathering. This delicious fall dessert is low in fat and rich in antioxidants. With all the flavor, you won’t miss the fat!
4. Pumpkin Mousse Parfait – Whip up this quick, easy, no-bake dessert any time you’re craving pumpkin! It’s low in sugar and perfect for those who are diabetic.
5. Guilt-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites – These bite-size desserts offer the rich flavor of cream cheese and ricotta (both low-fat) along with the cinnamon and pumpkin flavors so popular at this time of year. They are small, but satisfying, and the pumpkin puree offers nutritional benefits too!

Pumpkin is a powerhouse of many antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Vitamin A is a powerful natural antioxidant and is required by the body for maintaining the integrity of skin and mucus membranes. It is also an essential vitamin for good visual sight. Natural foods rich in vitamin A help our bodies protect against lung and oral cavity cancers. Can I get a whoop whoop?!

Still, the real treasure is in the seeds. One ounce (about 140 seeds) is packed with protein, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Plus, they contain high levels of phytosterols, which research suggests can reduce cholesterol and even help prevent some types of cancers. So get scooping!

(Image Credit)

So be like Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater that is, and find ways to sneak pumpkin in at any meal!! Yes, leftover Pumpkin Pie is acceptable to eat for breakfast the morning after Thanksgiving, why not?

Have a wonderful rest of your Wednesday! 🙂

Question of the Day:
Favorite Thanksgiving pie?