There are
so many signs that autumn is finally here - the cooler air, the leaves changing
colors, and of course let’s not forget the return of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice
latte. I have to admit that I used to
buy this drink religiously over the past few years, but I haven’t bought one
this season. Mostly because I’m trying
to cut back on eating or drinking anything with too many artificial flavorings
and added sugars. Don’t get me wrong, I
still crave the taste of this pumpkin-y delight, but I’m trying to make better
choices for my body.
Another
reason I haven’t bought this drink is because I recently read a blog post from
the Food Babe that questioned some of the ingredients in Starbucks’ drink. After I did a little research, I decided that
I needed to take a step backwards to reevaluate my drink options. Of course, I don’t know if the Food Babe post
is accurate, but I am equally concerned regarding the amount of sugar used in
the latte and the chemicals used in Starbucks’ signature pumpkin spice syrup.
So when I
found this Pumpkin
Spice Protein Smoothie recipe, I knew it was going to be my favorite
treat. It’s filled with real pumpkin,
which is a great source of vitamin A and beta-carotene, making it a healthy
addition to your diet. This smoothie that has less sugar
and fewer calories than the traditional Starbucks latte, but will
still tackle that fall pumpkin drink craving. Check out the recipe below to get
your Starbucks fix at home with infinitely more nutritional value. If you decide to try it, let me know what you
think. Happy blending!
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
[Inspired
by this pumpkin spice smoothie from Lululemon.]
Ingredients:
1 cup of canned
pumpkin
1 cup of
almond milk
1 or 2
frozen bananas (depending on how sweet you want it)
2 dates
1 tsp
vanilla extract
1 tsp of
nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger, to taste
1 scoop
of protein powder (optional)
A handful
of ice cubes
Directions:
Makes 2
servings
Prep
Time: 10 minutes
Blend all
ingredients together until you achieve the desired consistency. Adjust flavorings as needed and add more
almond milk or water if it’s too thick. Pour the drink in a glass and
Enjoy!
If you
need to stock up on some fall shoes, then you need to take a trip to Nine West - ASAP. Nine West is hosting a Friends and Family
sale where they are giving you 30% off your entire purchase. The sale is valid online and
in-stores through October 28, 2014 at 11:59pm ET and you don’t need a code
either. The discount will be reflected when
you are checking out. The store is also offering free
shipping on orders of $75 or more for a limited time only – which is pretty
awesome. I recently bought some shoes
from Nine West (here and here), but I might have to return to the store to pick
up at least one more pair. Check out some of
my favorites below. Do you plan on
buying any new shoes? Let me know which ones are your favorites.
