Low-Calorie Pumpkin Spice Alternatives

In the fall, it’s hard to avoid pumpkin spice products. You can find just about anything including baked goods, breakfast cereal and yogurt with this popular fall flavor.

However, many of these tasty treats pack on the sugar and calories. The ever-popular Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks (without whipped cream) packs an average 310 calories with regular milk or soy.

For a low-calorie alternative you can make at home, stir a dash of pumpkin spice, which you can buy in a grocery store or online, into a tablespoon of pumpkin puree and tablespoon of maple syrup and blend into your morning coffee. Finish it off with a sprinkle of cinnamon for an added kick. All together, this only adds 60 calories to your morning coffee. If you drink protein shakes in the morning, adding the same mixture is an easy way to add flavor, without going overboard with calories.

Rather than grabbing a 360-calorie donut from Dunkin Donuts in the morning, have a bowl of pumpkin spice oatmeal instead. Add a teaspoon of pumpkin spice to your oatmeal for a hearty breakfast with less than half the calories. You can also add a tablespoon of pumpkin puree for more pumpkin flavor.

If your pumpkin spice cravings still are not satisfied, you can always bake pumpkin muffins. You can find healthier recipes and mixes online to make homemade muffins at home, but when you use a mix you can buy in a store or online, each muffin is about 140 calories.

With these pumpkin spice alternatives, you’ll still be able to enjoy the flavors of fall without the added calories.