And because I cannot leave you hanging with a “homemade staple” for one week – I had to give you a recipe that you can add this homemade staple to – didn’t I? Enter this amazing Pumpkin Spice Smoothie 😉. As you may have seen, it is Pumpkin Spice Latte season again and it kind of feels like you see them popping up EVERYWHERE at the moment. I love a good one – but let us be real even though they may taste delicious most of the ones you do get on the high street are with artificial flavors, overtly sweet and do not contain a lot of nutrients.

So… this is where this amazing Pumpkin Spice Smoothie comes in. This smoopthie hopefully ticks all the boxes of a pumpkin spice latte but is also nutritious, filling, naturally sweetened and great flavor. Do I have your interest? I sure hope so!! 😉

Why is this Pumpkin Spice Smoothie good for you?
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is chock-full of nutrients, Vitamins, and Minerals. It can be used in super versatile ways (as you will soon learn – ’cause I am all about the pumpkin 🎃). I have written about the health benefits of pumpkin in my Pumpkin Puree post. Head on over there if you want to know all the details! 💫
Banana
Other than being utterly delicious – bananas are very nutrient-dense. They contain Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Copper, and Manganese. Bananas are rich in fiber – in the form of Pectin and resistant starch (both are higher in bananas that are unripe). This helps your digestive tract to eliminate well. The Potassium found in bananas may also protect your heart health. Studies have found that a diet high in Potassium may lower your blood pressure, which in turn decreases your risk of heart disease.
Nutmeg
I thought I would shine a light on the humble nutmeg. Nutmeg has a powerful array of antioxidants, which protect against free radicals and subsequent cell damage. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties, allowing your body to fight off inflammation in your body. Last but not least, nutmeg has also been shown to contain anti-bacterial properties. In initial studies, it was able to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the body.

How do I adjust this smoothie to my dietary requirements?
To make this smoothie vegan – use a vegan protein powder. To make this smoothie paleo you could swap in more almond milk instead of the coffee and use collagen instead of the protein powder. You may also want to add a bit of liquid vanilla and potentially reduce the maple syrup – depending on how much sugar you have in your diet. To make this smoothie nut-free simply swap the cashews for hemp seeds. If you do not drink caffeine – you could use decaffeinated coffee like I did (😉). You could also opt for herbal coffee.
And there you have it for this week 🤗 I hope you enjoy this deliciousness and please tag me in your creations under @life_and_lemons_foodblog over on Instagram or leave a comment below! 🌻