Pumpkin Spice… Everything

Contributed by: Ciara Floyd, M.S., NSCF-CPT, NSCA-CSCS

It’s that time of year again when all you see is “Pumpkin Spice” everywhere. It began with the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) in 2003 from Starbucks, and the trend has only grown from there. So what exactly is pumpkin spice? Oddly enough, most pumpkin spice items do not contain any pumpkin. The pumpkin spice flavor is created with a combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.

Although the Pumpkin Spice flavor is created with healthy spices, most store-bought pumpkin spice foods have all of the flavor plus tons of added sugar and fats, making processed pumpkin spice flavors an unhealthy choice. Although they taste great you may feel guilty afterwards. Below is a suggestion on how you can replicate the taste at home with less fat, sugar, and calories!

Combine allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg and add the mixture to your morning oatmeal, a bowl of quinoa, or blend into your very own Pumpkin Spice smoothie!

Remember, if you absolutely must have a PSL try one with nonfat milk, and no whipped cream. You will save 200 calories and 11 grams of fat. So, enjoy the fall and all of its flavors while staying healthy!

Source: https://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/pumpkin-spice-latte