My Top Five Autumn Smoothie Ingredients

Just like that! The air is crisp, the temps have dipped, and the trees are gradually balding. It is officially Autumn and this year, I’m going to ask you to forget about your pumpkin spiced lattes and peppermint hot chocolate.

Although, smoothies are typically associated with warm weather, I’ll beg to differ. I have come up with a list of my top five affordable and accessible ingredients to winterize your smoothie bowls as a healthy alternative to all the tempting treats this time of year.

Protect your heart health and blood sugar levels. Honestly, I put cinnamon on just about everything. The health benefits are overwhelming and the taste an Autumn classic.

I might be going out on a limb here but chocolate makes people happy. Yet, the sugar that accompanies it tends to break your skin out, pack on the pounds, and make you feel a little guilty right? Cacao is chocolate stripped down to its essence and it really makes everything taste good.

But how could we ever ditch the Vanilla Chai? It’s much easier than you think. Be sure to toss in a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract into that smoothie bowl of yours. It’s a great source of antioxidants and known to lower cholesterol. It also serves as an aphrodisiac, which could come in handy during these colder months (cuffing season!)

Change up your standard strawberry banana smoothie and make it minty. Fresh mint can help with the common cold, aid the digestive system, and relieve pain. If you get allergies this time of season fresh mint will be your best friend. A container usually costs me about two dollars, it lasts long, not to mention is delicious.

If you want to cater to that pumpkin craving, go for it! As a good source of vitamin A, vitamin K, fiber, and protein, pumpkin is immune system booster (useful for cold and flu season especially) and major promoter of eye-health. If you’re a calorie counter, you’re only looking about about 80 calories.

I’m not one for dairy in my smoothies, not a fan of the taste or the sluggishness I feel after consumption. A fantastic alternative has an array of healthy attributes and a subtle taste. Almond milk is a staple in most of my cold weather smoothies.

Try this:

One of my go-to nice creams/ smoothie bowls comes from vegan athlete Tia Blanco. I have been using it for about two years now and always crave it.

• Frozen Bananas (do not exceed four)
• About a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• Cinnamon
• Almond Milk
• Dates (taste like candy!)

One of the best aspects of making a smoothie is the creative liberty. It’s all about eyeballing measurements and adhering to personal taste. Just don’t take it too seriously, make it fun and healthy!