{"id":15288,"date":"2022-10-12T09:57:17","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T13:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/caloriecontrol.org\/add-flavor-with-pumpkin\/"},"modified":"2022-10-12T09:57:19","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T13:57:19","slug":"add-flavor-with-pumpkin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caloriecontrol.org\/add-flavor-with-pumpkin\/","title":{"rendered":"Add Flavor with Pumpkin"},"content":{"rendered":"
By: Jen Haugen, RDN, LD —<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

The weather is cooling, the leaves are changing, and pumpkins are sitting on doorsteps\u2026you know what that means \u2013 it\u2019s Halloween season. A favorite holiday for many children, and adults, alike, Halloween is a food-centered holiday that is rated number one in candy sales in America.  But don\u2019t let the candy trick you into unhealthy eating habits that last for three months, instead, focus on fall fruits and vegetables that you can add to your seasonal fall meals.  You might even find Pumpkin Chili a must for Halloween night.<\/p>\n

How can you add some fall flavor into your family mealtimes this season?  Use pumpkin!  Try these ideas:<\/p>\n

Pumpkin Spice<\/h2>\n

This spice is most typically a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and occasionally allspice, making this spice a unique flavor enhancer, that often times adds a sense of sweetness to your favorite desserts, beverages, and even savory dishes.  Try using this spice in a warm bowl of oatmeal in place of part of the brown or white sugar that often gets added to hot cereals.  Try adding a measure into pancake batter or season your roasted vegetables or popcorn.<\/p>\n

Pumpkin<\/h2>\n

Canned pumpkin is surprisingly versatile, making it a wonderful addition to your meals.  Pumpkin can take the place of other fruits in your smoothie (along with some pumpkin pie spice) and can even be an ingredient in a dessert-like hummus.  With hummus, the mixture of garbanzo beans along with pumpkin and spices can be topped with pumpkin seeds for a mid-afternoon snack.  Pumpkin can also be a part of pasta sauce or even soups, stews and chili.<\/p>\n

If you would like to add a little sweetness to your favorite pumpkin recipes, consider using a low-calorie sweetener like aspartame.  It\u2019s a low sugar way to add flavor without adding extra calories.  Discovered in 1965, aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener that is approximately 200 times sweeter than table sugar. Aspartame is unique among low-calorie sweeteners in that it is completely broken down by the body into its components \u2013 the amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and a small amount of methanol. These components are found in much greater amounts in common foods, such as meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables, and are used by the body in the same ways whether they come from aspartame or common foods.<\/p>\n

And know that aspartame is a safe food to use as it is one of the most thoroughly studied food ingredients ever, with more than 200 scientific studies supporting its safety. More than 100 countries have reviewed aspartame and found it to be safe for use.<\/p>\n

Enjoy this recipe as a Halloween warm-up, or make it throughout the fall season!<\/p>\n

Pumpkin Chili<\/h2>\n

Serves 6 (1-cup servings)<\/p>\n

Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n