Why Not Exercise Your Options with Delicious, Healthy Pumpkins?

   

Posted by RaySa

Oct 29, 2014

exercise_pumpkin_blog

Now that autumn is here, why not exercise your options with delicious, healthy pumpkins? They are rich in everything from vitamin A, phytosterols, carotenoids and fiber to tryptophan, potassium and vitamin C. So they’ll definitely help put a boost in your step and perhaps help improve your vision. Need ideas on what to make?

Pumpkin Spread with Rice Cakes

Try whipping up a batch of creamy, spicy pumpkin spread to enjoy with rice cakes, seasonal fruit or graham crackers. It may be made in advance and safely stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • ½ cup SPLENDA® Brown Sugar Blend
  • 2 cups Fresh Pumpkin Puree
  • 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 8 oz. Greek Yogurt

 

Toss the SPLENDA® Brown Sugar Blend, pumpkin pie spice and ground cinnamon together first. Then mix it into the fresh pumpkin puree. When you’re done, fold in the Greek yogurt until the ingredients are well blended and serve as desired.

Baked Pumpkin Croquettes

If you have at least ¾ cup of the spicy pumpkin puree leftover, consider making baked croquettes. Combine the spicy puree, minus the Greek yogurt, with the following ingredients and form the mixture into whole grain bread crumb coated croquettes:

  • ¼ cup Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
  • ¼ cup Steel-Cut Oatmeal
  • 8 oz. Chickpea Puree
  • 1 tbsp. Chia Seeds

 

Once you have the croquettes formed, pop them into the freezer for two hours. Then preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. After it reaches temperature, bake the croquettes on a non-stick or greased cookie sheet until they are cooked through and brown. They may be eaten plain or with a sauce of your choosing.

To uncover more ways to exercise your options with pumpkins and other fall garden delights, please contact us. Our nutritionists are always willing to share information with Merritt Athletic Club members seeking to better manage their health.

Topics: Merritt Athletics, Healthy Recipes, Fitness Tips, nutrition