It’s Autumn and pumpkin is in the season. I love pumpkins, they are big, round and orange. Not to forget they are very tasty and healthy, a rare combination to find! The orange color matches that of the season and its uses and benefits are perfect for the weather. This is the reason why we try and include pumpkins in our every meal. What if I tell you that you can include pumpkin in your post workout snacks as well. Often, we are very hungry post workout and need something quick to eat. This is where we grab for some junk or easy food and hence all the sweating and calorie burning in the gym goes in vain. This is a perfect answer to your what to eat post workout snack problem. It is easy to make and can be made in advance. Thus, what you really have to do is, go home, open your fridge and savor this pumpkin pudding. Don’t worry about the name, the recipe is guilt-free and loaded with protein.

Ingredients

one and a half cups soy milk

half cup pumpkin puree

one scoop whey Protein powder (30 grams)

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 tablespoon organic honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

a pinch of nutmeg powder

a pinch of ground ginger powder

a pinch of ground cloves powder

a pinch of salt

1/4 cup chia seeds

extra soy milk for topping

Recipe

Pour soy milk, pumpkin puree, peanut butter, organic honey and vanilla extract in a blow and mix it well.

In another small bowl add the cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, ground ginger powder, ground clove powder, and salt and mix them well together.

Now combine the dry and wet ingredients together and mix them well.

Place the blended mixture into a resealable large jar (or smaller jars) and add chia seeds to the jar. Seal jar and shake well.

Place in refrigerator overnight or for at least 4-5 hours. Shake the jars once in between to make sure they didn’t become too gelatinous.

Serve in bowls and pour some extra soy milk on top and eat up.

Breakfast, snack or post-workout go to is served!

Health benefits/Nutritional Value

Pumpkin puree: Pumpkin is very rich in dietary fiber, thus it makes you feel fuller. It regulates sleep, lowers blood pressure and helps to prevent from other heart diseases. Being rich in Vitamin A, it improves your vision.

Whey Protein: It is a food supplement, that externally provides the body with proteins. The aid in providing lean muscles, improve muscular strength, help to regulate excess fat. To know more, click here.

Soy Milk: It helps to improve lipid profile, strengthens blood vessel integrity, promotes weight loss and prevents osteoporosis. A glass of soy milk contains as much of protein that a glass of regular milk contains. Thus, it can replace the animal protein and even the lactose intolerants can benefit out of it.

Natural Peanut butter: Rich in protein and minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, potassium etc. It is a healthy alternative to regular butter. If you use natural and organic peanut butter, it would only contain peanuts and no added oils, emulsifiers or sugar. To know more benefits of peanut butter, click here.

Organic Honey: Healthy alternative to regular white sugar (contains 38.2% of fructose, 31.3% of glucose) To know more benefits of organic honey, click here.

Cinnamon Powder: Rich in antioxidants hence helps to detoxify the body. Boosts metabolism, aids digestion. To know more benefits of this wonder spice, click here.

Nutmeg: It helps to regulate sleep. It helps to relieve stress and fatigue. Detoxifies liver and kidney treats bad breath. To know more, click here.

Ginger: Reduces pain and inflammation. Being warm in nature it soothes pain and stimulates blood circulation. Relieves from gastric problems like gas, acidity and stomach cramps. It also soothes a sore throat. To know more, click here.

Clove: Relieves from nausea and vomiting, cough and cold, sinusitis, morning sickness, and stress. To know more, click here.

Chia seeds: Rich in dietary fibre and polyunsaturated fatty acids and minerals like phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. To know more benefits of chia seeds, click here.

Tips/Remarks

You can replace the soy milk with coconut, almond or regular milk.

You can also replace peanut butter with almond butter or any other nutty butter.

You can replace organic honey with brown sugar, regular sugar or maple syrup or any other sweetener.