Nothings says "autumn" quite like pumpkin, but when I was a kid the only kind of pumpkin in my world was a Halloween jack-o-lantern. We were not a pumpkin pie eating family. In fact I'm pretty sure that the idea of eating pumpkin in any form was  "gross". That was something that Laura Ingalls and her family did in their little house out on the prairie and we all knew that was just olden days stuff. Admittedly I did grow up in a Philadelphia suburb in the 1970's so if it didn't come out of a can or the freezer then I probably didn't eat it. 

Now that I am older and much, much wiser I know that not only is pumpkin delicious it's also really good for you. It's full of fiber (keeps you full and, er, regular), beta carotene (targets free-radicals), vitamin A (good for eyesight) and vitamin C (cold and flu fighter). Combined with oats, almond milk and a spices like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg it makes a yummy fall breakfast that takes about 5 minutes to make. It's also a time saver because you can whip it up at at night and it's ready to go in the morning. I like to add some toasted nuts or pumpkin seeds, cacao nibs and a dollop of coconut yogurt for some extra nutrition (and deliciousness!), as well as some collagen peptides for extra protein + skin, hair, nail and gut support. Collagen is one of my most favorite supplements in my mission to Age Audaciously! Here’s where you can read more about collagen and its benefits. While freshly roasted and pureed pumpkin is seriously delicious, I typically use pumpkin from a can which is really easy to find in the autumn months. This recipe only calls for 1/4 cup of pumpkin, but once the can is opened, the rest will store nicely in the fridge for about a week. You can use it for baking, in a pasta sauce or you can make a few jars of these oats and you’ll have breakfast ready to go for the whole family.

Bottom line: #PSL season may be upon us, but if you start your day with these overnight oats instead, you'll feel way more virtuous, your body will thank you and you will still be getting your pumpkin on. 

Happy Fall!

xo,

LIsa