I’ve been hankering for some pumpkin and chocolate, in fact – I can’t get enough of that combo lately.  Fall comes, and it’s like everything turns pumpkin.  I’m not mad about it.

Yesterday after my first 7 miler back to running after the Maui Marathon and being super sick – I needed a treat.  Instead of just losing myself in something totally unhealthy because “I just ran 7 miles and I can eat anything I want…” I decided to try out a smoothie.  No recipe, I just started throwing in the goods, and it did not disappoint!

I’m missing Maui so, I’ve been trying to channel my Hawaiian vacation and the amazing smoothie bowls that I experienced there.  Today I was inspired to add some healthy yummies to trick out my treat a bit more.  You can have healthy, decadent food and simply trick your brain into thinking it’s really a bowl of ice cream with toppings… but you feel WAYYYY better afterwards!  So, go for it – make a healthy treat and trick it out a bit more with more healthy tastes!  Have fun with it!

Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Protein Smoothie 

• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 scoop of chocolate protein
• 1 TBS cocoa powder
• 1/2 banana
• 3 cloves
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• sprinkle of ginger
• 4-5 ice cubes (or more if you want it icier)
• 3/4 – 1 cup of vanilla coconut milk

Toppings 

• 1/2 banana sliced thinly
• chocolate chips
• unsweetened coconut
• Noke’s granola

Directions

Combine all of the ingredients for the smoothie into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.  Pour into a bowl, and top your treat with more treats!!

Notes:  You can double the recipe to make a bigger shake, and you can freeze it as well to thicken it up and to support your toppings.