October marks the beginning of pumpkin season. The long-awaited pumpkin spice latte is back along with tons of tempting desserts and snacks. As tasty as these treats may be, they’re often packed with sugar and added calories that quickly take a toll on your waistline and teeth.
Fortunately, you don’t have to deny your craving for seasonally flavored goods. There are plenty of healthy bites that will satisfy your hankering without adding extra pounds or leaving you in caught in a perpetual sugar crash. Here are six snacks and recipes guaranteed to get you through the fall and winter months.
A long-time mom and kid-approved favorite, Cheerios are casting off their plain-Jane approach to breakfast for something a little more colorful. Pumpkin Spice Cheerios are low in fat and calories and provide 17 grams of whole grains per serving (3/4 cup). While it’s a little on the sugary side, you’ll have more time to burn off the buzz in the morning.
You don’t always have to say no to dessert. Halo Top brags only 90 calories, 3 grams of fat and 7 grams of sugar while serving up 5 grams of protein in a ½ cup bowl. The biggest and best surprise is that this treat packs a whole lot of taste! There’s piecrust, pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon in every bite. Go ahead, grab your spoon and dig in.
Take your PB&J to the next level. In fact, ditch the jelly. This tub of peanut butter is full of pumpkin spice flavor and is only 180 calories per 2 tablespoons. A serving of this delish nut butter has 12 grams of protein to power you through your day and only 1 gram of sugar. Try it on celery or in a smoothie. You’ll never want to go back to plain ol’ peanut butter again.
Charge your day with 12 grams of protein and extra spice flavor when you snack on this yogurt pick. Chobani says no to GMOs and only uses natural ingredients so you can feel good about giving it to your active youngster or killing your daily cravings with a cup. Yay for pumpkin spice season!
Pumpkin spice flavored drinks often seem innocent but are packed with added ingredients that up the sugar factor. Pumpkin spice tea may seem like an easy low cal solution to your pumpkin spice addiction, but many brands sneak in things like dehydrated whipped cream and chocolate. The Steeping Room gives tea lovers a pleasantly surprising fix with its Pumpkin Spice blend. This hot sip is sugar and caffeine-free and it’s packed with good-for-you antioxidants.
If you just can’t give up your PSL, no worries. Mama Natural came up with a healthier version of the Starbucks drink that cuts the whopping 330 calories and 40 grams of mostly refined sugar to 185 calories and 22 grams of natural sugar. Now that’s an improvement! Check out her recipe here for a feel-good way to wake up and go on even the coldest fall and winter days.