21DSD Recipe: Pumpkin & Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding

Hey Folks! We're excited to welcome Certified 21DSD Coach Kym Herrmann. Kym's recipe is part of a series contributed by our Certified 21DSD Coaches. Enjoy! – Diane and Team

I love fall. Golden leaves on the ground, fireplace lit, and trips to the pumpkin patch. It’s the time of year that I usually make pumpkin bars, hearty soups, and spiced cider. This year, we are also enjoying my Pumpkin & Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding. It’s super easy, packed with nutrients, and can be enjoyed as breakfast or dessert!

Pumpkin & Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding

PREP TIME: 15 minutes plus 1 hour to chill
SERVES: 2-4

ingredients:

• 2 vanilla bean pods
• 3 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 ½ teaspoon pumpkin spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

preparation:

Scrape the seeds out of the vanilla bean pods; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk almond milk, chia seeds, and vanilla seeds. Set aside for 20 minutes so that the chia seeds begin to thicken.

After the mixture begins to thicken, add pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice. Whisk gently. Let set 10 minutes. Pour mixture into ramekins or small mason jars. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Additional spice and vanilla can be added until flavored to your liking.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin has amazing health benefits. It is very high in carotenes and contains over 200% of the RDA for Vitamin A! Pumpkins are known for their protective benefits against lung and other cancers, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes (Murray).

If you want to play in the kitchen a bit, you can puree your own pumpkin! To do this, cut the top off the pumpkin and then slice it in half, then quarters. Scrape out the seeds, and set them aside to roast later. Bake pumpkin quarters face up at 350°F until the pumpkin is tender to the fork. Once the pumpkin cools enough to handle, scrape the pumpkin from the skin. Blend the pulp in a food processor. You might have to add a little water, but make sure it’s very gradual.

Voila! You’ve made your own pumpkin puree!

Source:

Murray, M. (n.d.). The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods. New York: Atria Books.

As a Certified Nutritional Consultant, 21-Day Sugar Detox Coach, and RRCA Running Coach, Kym is passionate about nutrition and fitness and how they impact every aspect of our lives. Her enthusiasm for good health through great food led her to Bauman College where she received her education. Kym considers it a privilege and great joy to share her knowledge about nutrition with other people. She works 1:1 with clients, individualizing wellness and nutrition plans for them, conducts educational nutrition workshops, and leads 21-Day Sugar Detox groups on a regular basis. Kym specializes in athletic nutrition, weight-loss, and hormone health. You can reach Kym at www.myfitnut.com or [email protected].