Pumpkin Spice Latte (a healthier alternative to Starbucks PSL)

Fall is in the air (ok, that's just me dreaming as it is going to be over 100 degrees here in SoCal this weekend...).  Pumpkin everything is starting to come out everywhere!  If you're like me, fall is my favorite time of the year (and also my least favorite!).  I grew up in Kansas and lived a few years in Northern Virginia and love, love, love Fall.  Like, really love Fall!  Ever since I moved to Southern California, well, that is the "season" we really just don't have.  We get it for maybe a couple weeks in late November, if we're lucky...but, there's really nothing like a true fall with the changing of the leaves and the cool crisp in the air!

I love the fall leaves changing!

So, when pumpkin "everything" comes out this time of year, it's a love/hate relationship.  But deep down I absolutely love it still because I just LOVE pumpkin anything!!

Well, I used to get really excited about Starbucks coming out with their Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  Over the last few years as I started being more concerned about what I was eating and drinking I would only get them maybe one or two times a year.  HOWEVER...now that I'm being even more conscious about not only the calories in but also the other ingredients that are in my foods, I've decided I will NEVER be having a Starbucks PSL again!

Picture from Foodbabe.com

So a friend (thank you Melissa!) shared this article with me from Foodbabe.com and I was really so shocked that I wanted to share it with you!!  Now, Vani, the Food Babe,  goes through all the details that I'm not going to go into depth with, because she did a great job at it!  But, I wanted to share at least this link with you so you can go and make the decision for yourself after reading the facts!

Picture from Foodbabe.com

Let's just say this...it ain't natural stuff in the "delicious" Pumpkin Spice Latte!

However...there is good news!!  Vani came up whit this amazing HOMEMADE Pumpkin Spice Latte that I just had to try out myself this morning and it is SO delicious!  So...I get to save the $5 for a grande PSL, plus all the harmful chemicals that are in it, and make it myself for next to nothing!!

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

Here are some recipes for healthier alternative to the Pumpkin Spice crave in all the coffee shops!! Make your own!! (Recipes from Foodbabe.com)

Pumpkin Spice Recipes

Here's another great option if you want to try out a Pumpkin Spice Latte Shakeology.  Why not mix your "used to be favorite drink" with Shakeology!!  If you've never tried Shakeology (your healthiest meal of the day), then send me a message for more information or to order a single packet!!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Shakeology

Pumpkin Spice Latte Shakeology

• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup brewed chilled coffee
• 1/3 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology
• Ice cubes

For more information on clean eating and meal planning please feel free to email me!

Day 2- Eat Clean Stripped Challenge

Day 2 of my challenge…

Another part of my challenge is working out, along with the clean eating stripped plan.  While your diet is 70-80% of your results (as they say, abs are made in the kitchen), it is still very important to workout… not only to keep your heart healthy but to tone your muscles and but also because muscle burns more calories than fat!

So, my current workout is Beachbody's Focus T25!  OHHHHhhhhh.  I can NOT say enough about how much I love this workout!  Shaun T has made a brilliant workout, PERFECT for a busy mom who really doesn't have a lot of time to fit in a workout…it's ONLY 25 minutes long!!  Honestly, it is absolutely perfect for me!  I DON'T have a lot of time in the morning, but I wake up and get in my 25 minutes of a fast pace workout and feel great the rest of the day!

If you're looking for a great workout that doesn't take a lot of time out of your day, check out this video below and get in contact with me if you're interested in focusing for just 25 minutes a day!



Alright, so here it is…my day of eating:

Breakfast

Breakfast:  Steel cut oatmeal (I seriously could eat oatmeal for every meal of every day!  I love it so much!), 1/4 cup of blueberries, touch of almond milk.

 Snack:  1 Apple with 1 TBSP Peanut Butter

Lunch:  Spinach Salad, 4 oz. grilled chicken, 1/4 c black beans, tomatoes, red onion, and balsamic vinegar and EVOO for dressing.  It was so yummy and looked so good I forgot to take a before pic!  Then I added 1/2 a cup of spaghetti squash.

Lunch

Snack:  Pumpkin Spice Latte Shakeology!  YUMMM!!  

 3/4 Cup Almond Milk

1/2 cup brewed chilled coffee 

1/2 cup pureed pumpkin

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

ice cubes!  

I LOVE Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks…but I recently looked at the fat, calorie, and sugar contents of it and decided that PSL's for me are not a good choice anymore!  So I decided to do the next best thing and make my own version of a HEALTHY Pumpkin Spice Latte…Shakeology style!  And OHHH was it yummy!!

Dinner:  Body Beast Meatloaf and Spaghetti Squash and 1/2 cup of brown rice.

So there's my day of eating…I give myself a 5 on a scale of 1 to 5 for the day!!  Here's to feeling great and eating great food!

Until next time...