Fall in a Glass!

I've kept it at bay as long as I could, but now that the weather is (finally!) starting to cool down, I have a bad case of pumpkin-itis.  Normally by now I would've made pumpkin soup and pumpkin bread and maybe even pumpkin-sage ravioli.  You know.  Pumpkin: All. the. things  And it's a good thing that there is no St. Arbucks nearby or it would be a pumpkin spice latte way too often.

But as I've made changes to the way I eat, getting my fall fix has been a challenge. So I did what any pumpkin-craving, sorta techy person would do.  I turned to the wisdom of Pinterest. I was pretty delighed that one of the first recipes was for a pumpkin protein smoothie made with whey protein.  Whey protein is a great way to sneak in some extra protein without tons of calories, carbs, or sodium.  It also has a pretty complete amino acid profile, which is why bodybuilders swear by it.  (Amino acids are necessary for building muscle.)  But don't worry-- even if you aren't a body builder, whey protein can make a great addition to your diet.  Fact: most people eat too little protein for their body's requirements, but that's a post for another day. That being said, protein powder day in and day out is about as exciting as it sounds.

So this is perfect! Makes good use of whey, tastes like fall, and bonus: ice cream! Yes, ice cream!  Contrary to belief, ice cream is great when eaten at the right time of day-- either first thing in the morning or right before a workout. (Um... seriously on the 1/2 cup though--ALWAYS MEASURE!) That way your body can make good use of the carbs.  And because ice cream also has fat and protein, the absorbtion of the carbs is slowed, so it's a good source of longer lasting energy.  (Eat nothing but carbs at a meal and see how quickly you get hungry!)

But wait! As if all that wasn't enough-- there is so much more.  Pumpkin is a powerhouse of great nutrients, including magnesium and potassium (which can be a challenge to consume in correct amounts). Magnesium plays a role in carbohydrate and fat metabolism, supports protein synthesis, and aids in wound healing, as well as playing a vital role in muscle contractions.  Potassium in canned pumpkin maintains healthy heart function and plays an important role in nerve transmission.  But the benefits don't stop there, because canned pumpkin is also high in both vitamins A and K.  Vitamin A plays a major role in eye health (a deficiency can contribute to "night blindness"), immune function and wound healing, and the production of red blood cells.  Vitamin K assists in blood clotting and amino acid metabolism.

Here's my adapted version of Fall in a Glass (aka "Heaven").  Please note, right now I am drinking whole milk, but that may not be appropriate for you. This was made in a way that meets my pre-workout needs.  Definitely make this work for you, and calculate the calories based on your preferences.   Nutrition info is given based on this recipe:

1/2 c Eddy's Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
8 oz Vitamin D Milk
1/4 c canned pumpkin
1 Scoop Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey, Vanilla
1/8 t ground cloves
1/8 t ground cinnamon
1/8 t pumpkin pie spice

Nutrition:
Calories: 409,  Carbs: 37g, Fat: 13g, Protein 34g, Sodium: 264 mg

Throw it in a blender, and throw it back! Happy Fall, y'all!