Simple, easy, no sugar added, nutritious smoothie! Who doesn't like that?
Most smoothies are full of sugar and high in calories so I usually never get one anywhere. I don't often make them because I really don't like having to take out the blender to make it! Silly reason I know, but sometimes, my kids ask for one and today was one of those days. I didn't have any strawberries or blueberries left in the freezer (used them all in my yummy sugar-free Baked Oatmeal) so I improvised and came up with this new smoothie we loved!
I usually always have frozen bananas in the freezer (I stock up on those as soon as they get too ripe!) and since its autumn and I love pumpkin, why not make a pumpkin smoothie? I mean you all know how good pumpkin is for you right? In case you forgot check my post on Pumpkin Spice Muffins for the benefits of eating pumpkin. I wasn't too sure how my kids would like it, but I gave it a whirl anyway. I didn't even need to add any sweetener to it, but the kids wanted some after I gave them a little cupful. I added a few drops of Sweet Leaf Stevia vanilla creme and they loved it!
Oh almost forgot to mention the best part about this smoothie......
It is so full of protein, it kept me without any hunger pangs until well after my usual lunch time! Now THAT usually never happens to me!
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1* Calories: 222* Fat: 7.1g* Fiber: 8.4g* Carbs: 32.2g* Protein: 11.9g* Points+:6 Old Points: 4
Pumpkin Vanilla Sugar-Free SMoothie
[sc:Ziplist]
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon flax seed, ground
- ¼ c. cottage cheese, low-fat or vanilla greek yogurt
- ½ banana
- ½ c. almond milk (or any milk you like)
- ¼ c. pumpkin, canned
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ c. unsweetened applesauce
- (optional) SweetLeaf Stevia, vanilla creme to taste
- ½ c. ice
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in blender and process until smooth!
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Kim
Could i add some protein powder to this?? Any suggestions on how much?
Brenda
I would only use 1 scoop.
Lisa
interesting ingredients. I wasn't expecting cottage cheese. I'd like to try this someday... my kids love smoothies!
Rachel
Yum! Thanks for sharing this! I haven't tried any smoothies yet, but I'm adding this to my list.
Kate
yum. I love smoothies and have been wanting a new recipe - this looks great - thx for sharing 🙂
Brenda
Thanks Kate!
Jen
sounds good, can't wait to try it!!! BTW, I made the crock pot baked oatmeal...very good!
Brenda
So happy you liked the crockpot oatmeal! It is so yummy!
Elise
Looks really yummy! I love how banana sweetens smoothies 🙂 I'm on a pumpkin kick, so I may try this, but without the applesauce since I'm pretty sure we don't have any....
Shay
Looks Good! Thanks! Visit me at http://raisingdieter.blogspot.com/ for recipes!
Jennifer
This worked out well for us. We used tofu in place of cottage cheese, coconut and soy milk( we use soy because it is one of our only calcium sources), and the frozen pumpkin from our Fun Family Pumpkin Roast Day. No sweetener coconut added a nice sweetness. I would have never thought of a banana pumpkin smoothie but this was wonderful
Brenda
Glad you liked it! No soy in our house as my oldest is allergic!