Fall Flavors to Fuel Your Run & Keep Your Diet Clean!

With the weather finally starting to get cooler throughout the days, it's safe to say fall has moved in. This can be a great time of year to focus on improving your running, fitness, or just overall health. With the cooler temperatures, it's easier to get out and run for longer periods of time. With spring races still over 25 weeks away, the added stress of upcoming events also fades from front of mind.

With this cooler season also comes the holidays. With the holidays comes lots of delicious comfort foods. The pumpkins, squashes, ciders, sweets, and spices are just as much part of this season as are our family and friends. And, if you have a soul, there's no doubt you're looking forward to indulging in a sugary cornucopia of carb overload!

I don't blame you... that stuff's awesome! BUT - what if you could minimize the damage and still hit the sweet, spicy spot you're looking for? It is possible! And, while I'm not saying to skip the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving or Christmas, I am saying scale back during the week. Make the smart choices as often as possible so that it's okay to dive into the pie when you're really celebrating.

Here are 3 of my most recent favorite fall creations. Warning, these are MY creating, and I'm not a chef! But, I think they're delicious, simple, and don't make you feel like you're missing out!

3, Three Ingredient Fall Inspired Recipes

• Holly Pumpkin Pie Cannoli
• Spicy Bone Broth Sip
• Pumpkin Protein Crunch

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Holly Pumpkin Pie Cannoli (I even gave these cheesy names!)
Ingredients:

• 1 Serving Regular Ricotta Cheese
• 1 TBLS Organic Pumpkin Pie Mix 
• 1 TBLS Pumpkin Puree

Directions:
The beauty of this one is that it's so simple. Grab the ingredients listed above, drop them in a bowl and stir until well mixed. Once mixed, just eat it! The pumpkin pie mix will add just a hint of sweetness. It'll taste like a cannoli filling, but be fairly low in calories.

Spicy Bone Broth Sip
Bone broth is quickly becoming all the rage. It is one of the most nutritions forms of broth and contains minerals that may improve bone strength such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, silicon, sulphur and many more. It also contains glucosamine and collagen. Our recipe calls for a little added turmeric as well, which is widely regarded for it's anti-inflammatory properties.

I will personally mix up this concoction before heading out to meet clients at the track on cool, fall nights.

Ingredients:

• 1 to 2 Cups Organic Chicken or Beef Bone Broth (it's a pain in the ass to make... just by a good organic brand)
• Turmeric (to taste)
• Pink Sea Salt (to taste)

Directions:
Another simple one. Heat up the bone broth using a sauce pan or microwave (I usually just pop it in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes). Add your sea salt and turmeric to taste, put it in a mug and enjoy! If you wan't to kick it up a notch (and have the training calories to burn), get a super high quality olive oil and add about a half to full tablespoon to the mix. Dump the whole concoction into a Vitamix and whip it up for 30 to 60 seconds. It'll actually make it a bit creamy!

Pumpkin Protein Crunch
Like I said, these are all easy! This has become both a go to for breakfast, and even an evening snack.

Ingredients:

• 1 Serving of Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola Cereal from Aldi
• 1 Cup Stoneyfield Organic, Fat Free Greek Yogurt
• 1 TBLS Organic Pumpkin Pie Mix 

Directions:
Just like the cannoli recipe above, drop the ingredients into a bowl and stir until well mixed. Once mixed, just eat it! The pumpkin pie mix will add that hint of sweetness. This packs more protein than the cannoli recipe, and I've even added some extra pumpkin spice to it. Additionally, depending on my mood, I'll eat it right away so the granola is crunchy, but it's also good if you let it sit for awhile and allow the granola to get a little soft in the yogurt.