Lifestyle

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Banana Split Shake

November 21, 2014

Heck yes, you read the title of this post correctly. TBB is doing a recipe post. For the first time in… probably about four months. Why is that? For a few reasons…

A) In recovering from my eating disorder, I have found it incredibly liberating to eat whatever the heck I please without trying to make it pretty for a legit photo shoot and/or be concerned about planning it out in advance and giving food so much extra thought, and B) I wrote 75+ recipes for The Balanced Blonde App and am in the midst of writing 25 recipes for Breaking Vegan, so a lot of my new and fun recipes are going toward those awesome projects. Oh, and C) Now that I’m no longer vegan, I am only just beginning to get the hang of making non-vegan things and I wouldn’t want to lead you all astray with my sometimes very subpar creations.

But, alas, I am still a smoothie addict and I still like to create yummy concoctions in my VitaMix just about every day. With Thanksgiving coming up it only seemed right to post a yummy pumpkin recipe to add to your healthy holiday repertoire. One of my FAV things to do is blend pumpkin with cacao, banana, almond milk and oats to make one delicious nutritionally dense and well-rounded meal.

As far as pre-workout fuel, it tops the charts. Buttt if you’re going to do a kickass class like Orange Theory and/or any type of intense cardio, you might want to hold off on having this smoothie after your workout. Trust me, after a few bouts with nearly throwing up this morning while sprinting at a 9.0 incline, I kinda wished I had done that.

ALSO… I wanna make a quick note about something. My posting schedule. When I have my druthers (I’ve always wanted to say that), I like to post 5-6 days out of the week on TBB. Typically Monday-Friday, sometimes with a Saturday or Sunday thrown in there if I’m feeling extra inspired. Lately, with working on the book and busting out some new projects in the fitness world… my posting schedule has been more like 3 times per week.

Mainly, I don’t want to let you guys down. Your readership allows me to do what I do, and I shudder to think of being one of those unpredictable blogs where you never know what you’re going to get. Consistency is suuuuper important to me, so for the time being (while finishing the book) I might cut down to a 3-4 times per week schedule. How would you all feel about that?

I just want to be consistent. And bring y’all the best content I can possibly bring.

Things I want to write about that happened this week: An AMAZING dinner hosted by the sensational Tess Masters, Whitney Lauritsen and Jason Wrobel at SunCafe Organic in Studio City, a freakishly magical and ethereal “Into the Woods” photo shoot with the fab Miss Katie Shuler, my newfound obsession with Orange Theory Fitness, my new writing gig with Livestrong, and my musings on the importance of connecting with our community in this rockin’ health + fitness world.

But, for now, PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA SPLIT SHAKE. And, because Arman & I hate when people title their recipes something totally inauthentic, I can single-handedly promise you that this shake actually tastes like a pumpkin chocolate chip banana split… vegan (because I know you’ll ask) + healthified, of course.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Banana Split Shake

Serves 1-2 Ingredients: 1 overripe banana (overripeness is important for digestion/nutritional value + for sweetness) 1/4 cup organic pumpkin puree 1.5 tablespoons cacao powder 1/4 cup gluten-free oats (uncooked) 1/2 cup almond milk 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup ice *Optional: 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I like Vega One) Toppings: 1 tablespoon cacao nibs; additional handful of raw gluten-free oats Method: Combine all ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend thoroughly. Top with cacao nibs and a sprinkle of oats, and you’re golden! Enjoy! Sip, sip, sip away!

Any other Thanksgiving recipes you’d like to see on the bloggy next week?! Share away! Happy Friday, lovelies!

14 comments

I Wanna Know what do you think?

Cancel reply

Lee

GIRLLLL! You aren't letting anyone down. Cutting back is good...it keeps us a-waitin'! I did Orange Theory once and almost diet. It legit was THE HARDEST workout I've ever done. I think because I got really competitive with the chick next to me. It's the damn heart rate monitors!

Jordan Younger

You are the best. And omg it WAS the hardest workout of all time. I legit was on the verge of throwing up on more than one occasion... it kicked my BUTTTTT and I absolutely loved it. I also got super competitive hahaha I knew my heart rate was higher than everyone else's but I thinkkk it's because they're all in better running shape than me. Whoops. Seriously obsessed now!

Michele @ paleorunningmomma

Looks delicious! I feel like you can't pressure recipe-creating, and most of the good ones wind up coming easily and effortlessly out of the blue!
Liz S.

Post whenever you can - no pressure! You won't lose your loyal readers :) This shake sounds fabulous! Seasonal deliciousness.
JanieY

Cannot WAIT to try this smoothie! Looks and sounds right up my alley!!
Alice @ Honestly Fitness

Your loyalty to your readers is so wonderful; you're so down to earth, lady!! Don't feel pressured, we understand and will still love you :) The smoothie looks so yummy! I'd love to see something apple and/or pecan inspired up on the blog when you have time too :)
Bridget

Your journey has been so inspiring - I went through ED recovery about 5 years ago - and I still struggle to find "balance" between wanting to eat everything to prove I am over it and wanting to eat really healthy yummy clean foods. I like to call this the new normal. Pumpkin smoothies have become an addiction for me this fall... needless to say this will be my breakfast tomorrow!! Thank you for the recipe, don't worry about posting a ton - we have an app for that! - plus it makes the few that much more worth it because we know they passed all the tests! - B p.s. Maca goes amazing with pumpkin!!
Ann

3 posts a week are perfectly fine! Better 3 amazing posts than 5 or 6 written without any passion and distance just to post SOMEthing. What is this workout all about?? Is it a group activity? I work out regularly but haven't had a SUPER exhausting workout for quite some time. I never push myself to my limits enough.

Ann

Oh and dive you've talked holiday recipes. What about cookies?? I'm totally into chickpeas again lately, can you make a chickpeas cookie? Not really Christmas-y but you could add cinnamon, haha! Christmas or not, cookies are awesome!

Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine

Looks delicious! I don't think cutting back a few posts a week is going to affect your readership :) We are all aware of the many things going on in your life!
Arman @ thebigmansworld

Um.... I'm sorry my eyes are deceiving me. You posting a recipe? Who are you ;) And you may NOT post only 3 times a week. You need to post every single day and sometimes, twice a day. If not, I'm taking you off my reader and sending certain people after you.
Nik

Delish! I need to get back at orange theory! I love adding pumpkin to my smoothie but I always need fats in my smoothies and that would definitely only serve one for me ;)
Deirdre

That smoothie looks gorgeous, and I love the photo in the stream--so pretty! Re: postings, since you asked, 3-4 a week is perfect. You need time to collect your thoughts, draft, polish, etc. And I like the element of surprise when a new blog entry appears. :) (I, too, am working on a big writing project; you have no idea how happy and energized I get from your blog, my darling.)
Lindsay

They are opening an Orange Theory down the street from my apartment and since there is no yoga studios close enough by me to go super early in the morning, I might have to give OTF a try. How is it?? I am not a runner or in cardio shape but I feel like I need to start doing intense workouts to get all my anxiety and stress out of my system!