Summer may be coming to an end, but pumpkin season is just getting started. This vegan Pumpkin Pie s-MOO-thie recipe from Barn Sanctuary’s Kitchen Companion is a delicious, low-calorie treat to celebrate the fall season. This is a quick, simple recipe that you whip up in the comfort of your own home.
Pssst! It’s also perfect way to celebrate the launch of Barn Sanctuary’s first ever MOOnster Mash Virtual 5K – register today and join in on the fall fun!
Pumpkin Pie s-MOO-thie
By now your local coffee shops will undoubtedly have a menu of pumpkin items to choose from, but they often contain dairy, are high in sugar and can rack up a bill. In the spirit of staying home and being kind to animals this easy recipe will help you feel festive and give you an energy boost too.
Plant-Based Ingredients
Pumpkin is a great source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It is high in fiber, which helps you feel full but is low in calories. Pumpkin is also high in vitamins A and C, which can help boost your immune system. Pumpkin is a good source of potassium, vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, making it good for your heart as well. Our residents like Jasper the pig and Harry the turkey also enjoy pumpkin season! We feed them sliced pumpkins for a healthy and enriching treat.
Another super ingredient, turmeric, a bright yellow spice closely related to ginger, is used for cooking and medicinal benefits. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits according to research. Turmeric may be effective in treating and preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. It may also aid wound healing and pain reduction.
The smoothie is sweetened by using dates — a delicious and healthier alternative to sugar. Dates are a plant-based source of fiber and antioxidants. The cranberries in this sMOOthie are also a source of antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C so you will be ready to take on Autumn at your best!
Mike the cow with a pumpkin
The last ingredient you will need is your choice of unsweetened plant-based milk: oat, almond, soy, rice, hazelnut, hemp, etc. There are plenty of non-dairy milks to choose from, but all are more compassionate and sustainable choices compared to traditional dairy. In order to produce milk, a dairy cow must be pregnant. On dairy farms, these cows are forcibly impregnated for 4-6 years to create as much milk as possible. After they give birth, their calves are taken away from them within hours. Male calves are sent to slaughter for veal, and female calves are forced into the same vicious cycle as their mothers. Choosing plant-based milk shows love and compassion for cows like our residents Cora and DJ.
Dairy also uses more land, energy and water than the alternatives according to research conducted by Oxford University in 2018. Dairy has also been attributed by physicians as a contributing factor to many health issues we often see as “part of life” such as acne, asthma and eczema, as well as many cancers, heart disease, brittle bones and more.
The Recipe
Try Thousands of Healthy, Cruelty-Free Recipes with Kitchen Companion
Barn Sanctuary’s Kitchen Companion is the perfect introductory tool for healthy plant-based eating. It’s easy to use and caters recipes based on your taste and goals. Once you sign up, just answer a few simple questions, and it creates a personalized plan for you including meals, snacks and even grocery lists.
Leave animals off your plate with all the help you need from nutritional coaches to catered recipes.