With fall comes the return of the Starbucks PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte), but unfortunately this fall favorite is a veritable sugar bomb containing no real pumpkin and a whopping 12.5 teaspoons of sugar in a 16 oz drink. That's as much as or more than the average candy bar! It’s a real metabolic and inflammatory nightmare. I admit that I too am a sucker for anything with the words "pumpkin spice", so I decided to make a cleaned-up version of this classic Autumn drink. I hope you'll curl up in front of a fire with your fuzzy socks and enjoy it as much as I do!

As the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter, it’s important to incorporate more grounding, hearty vegetables into your diet. Salads are great, but in colder months they aren’t always that appealing. It’s normal to crave more substantial meals and carbs in the fall and winter, and winter vegetables are a delicious, lower glycemic way to feel more satisfied. This is also a great dish to batch cook so you can easily reheat them or freeze them for later use.

I created this smoothie as a post weight training meal. It has a little more fruit than I typically use in my smoothies to help with muscle repair and recovery. The banana replenishes potassium and other minerals, and the tart cherries help to reduce inflammation an soreness.

These dishes are rich, delicious, and meant to be enjoyed guilt-free. The holidays are a time for “Strategic Indulgence”, so eat slowly and mindfully, and enjoy these nutrient dense recipes that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized, not bloated and sluggish.