Is anyone else completely crazy about everything pumpkin right now?!

We LOVE pumpkin. Not only is it the best fall food ever, but it’s so good for you!

Here are 3 benefits of eating pumpkin:

• 1 cup of pureed pumpkin contains more than 200% of your recommended daily amount of vitamin A, which aids vision.
• Pumpkin can help aid in weight loss – 1 cup of pumpkin contains 3 grams of fiber and only 50 calories, making pumpkin a great food to help you feel full for longer on fewer calories.
• Pumpkin can help reduce the risk of cancer. Pumpkin (like their other orange comrades – sweet potato, carrot, butternut squash) contain antioxidant beta-carotene, which may play a role in cancer prevention, according to the National Cancer Institute.

So if that’s not enough to make you love pumpkin I don’t know what will!

Try this amazingly healthy Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars:

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Healthy Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars

Serves 9

Ingredients

• 2 cups oat flour
• ½ cup coconut sugar or raw cane sugar
• 1 ½ cups pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tbs coconut oil
• 1 tbs pumpkin spices
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 8×8 baking pan with nonstick spray.
2. In a medium bowl, beat egg and sugar then add pumpkin, oil almond milk and vanilla extract.
3. In another bowl, mix all dry ingredients (except the chocolate chips), add to the wet ingredients and mix well.
4. Fold in chocolate chips (save a few to sprinkle on top) and pour batter into prepared pan.
5. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Notes

Servings: 9
Calories: 294
Fat: 8 g
Carbs: 53 g
Protein: 7 g