Healthy Eating Tips for Pumpkin Lovers

By Brandi Swieter

The fall season brings many pumpkin treats, but not all are healthy. Rather than purchasing pumpkin pies and lattes, it’s important to skip some of the sweet stuff and create healthy alternatives instead. Pumpkin lovers can still get their fix this season by following some healthy eating tips and trying new recipes they may not have thought of in the past.

Substitute Pumpkin Puree for Butter and Cheese

Countless recipes call for butter, cheese, or both. Think macaroni and cheese and other pasta dishes. Both the cheese and butter in these meals adds a considerable amount of fat that doesn’t add any nutritional value. Pumpkin not only contains Vitamin C, but it has potassium and fiber as well. Add in a scoop of pumpkin puree instead of the cheese and butter and enjoy a healthier version of the meal with a pumpkin twist.

Use Pumpkin in a Smoothie

Smoothies offer healthy alternatives to meals. If someone wants to enjoy some pumpkin flavor without feeling guilty for eating an entire slice of pie, a pumpkin pie smoothie is a valid substitution. Stick with healthy smoothie ingredients, such as vanilla protein powder and bananas. Add in some pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice and get a taste unlike any other.

Put Pumpkin Seeds in Salads

Most people use breadcrumbs or croutons for that extra crunch in their salad. These options aren’t the worst, but they do add some extra calories that aren’t needed. Put pumpkin seeds on salads instead to get the desired crunch while having a lower-calorie meal.

Crush Pumpkin Seeds for a Meat Coating

A bread coating often gets used for meat. Once it gets cooked, the meat is juicy and tender inside and crunchy outside. Since breadcrumbs contain more fat, pumpkin seeds make a healthier alternative. Crush some up and use it for the meat coating to enjoy a protein-packed meal.

Turn Pumpkin into Hummus

Hummus is a healthy dip option that many nutrition experts recommend. For those who want to put a fall twist on the dip, swirling in a dollop of pumpkin puree will do the trick. The two mixed together is still a healthy alternative to other dip choices, yet it changes the flavor to make it more fall-worthy.

Eating healthy isn’t always easy, but there are ways to make it more worthwhile. During the fall months when pumpkin is a favorite among many, some healthy substitutions can be added, such as pumpkin. The Vitamin C and other health benefits are too good to pass up. Visit The Joint Chiropractic to speak with a doctor and learn more about the importance of nutritional health.

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Wilmington, N.C.