Starting work before sunrise has always been a norm in my house. That means coffee is a must. But breakfast? Not so much. My stomach is not ready to digest that early in the morning, but inevitably by mid-morning, I'm starving. Too late for breakfast at that point, and too early for lunch.

My solution? Mixed fruit smoothies. They have turned into my go-to mid-morning "meal." I like to make them the night before and store in the fridge so I don't come up with an excuse to reach for something unhealthy in my pantry instead. 

This time of year I love to make a pumpkin smoothie. Not only is this pumpkin smoothie delicious, it has a lot of added health benefits. Did you know:

• Pumpkin has loads of Vitamin A: Important for normal vision, the immune system, and reproduction and helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly
• Pumpkins contain antioxidants, which can neutralize free radicals, stopping them from damaging your cells
• Pumpkin is loaded with nutrients (Vit A, Vit E, & Vit C) that can boost your immune system.
• Pumpkin is high in carotenoids, compounds that can function as antioxidants. This allows them to neutralize free radicals, which may protect against certain cancers.

Pumpkin smoothie

Ingredients: 

• 1 banana (frozen if possible)
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. almond butter
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or a mix of cinnamon and nutmeg)

Directions:

Put all ingredients into your mixer and blend until smooth. Top with whipped cream or a splash of vanilla creamer and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

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