In anticipation of this month’s webinar, Healthy Hints for a Happy Halloween, The Caregiver Space and Meals to Heal decided to share our favorite healthy pumpkin recipes with you!

Jonah, our Development Director, loves these healthy pumpkin muffins. He assures you they are packed with flavor and hard to stop at just one!

Pumpkin Muffins with Crystalized Ginger

Makes 12

1/2 cup crystallized ginger, roughly chopped

Dry
3 1/3 cups flour
2tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Wet
1 cup canola oil
4 eggs
2/3 cup water
2 cups pureed pumpkin

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Thoroughly mix dry ingredients, in a separate bowl whisk together wet ingredients.
3. Stir and combine wet and dry ingredients, pour in crystallized ginger bits and mix.
4. Grease muffin tins and sprinkle with flour.
5. Fill tins 3/4 full with batter and bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Jessica Iannotta and Aimee Shea, oncology registered dietitians from Meals to Heal, often recommend this simple, easy to prepare, and nourishing soup to their cancer patients during the Fall season. It is a warm, comforting recipe packed with beta-carotene and fiber and is great for those experiencing mouth soreness or an uneasy stomach during the holidays.

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Soup

2 tbsp olive oil

3 cups pumpkin puree

½ cup diced onion

¼ cup diced celery

¼ cup diced carrot

½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 carton (4 cups low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth)

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrot until softened
2. Add broth and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Stir in pureed pumpkin and cinnamon and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
4. Puree soup with an immersion blender or transfer to a blender to blend until smooth
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve warm. May garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary or add some heavy cream for additional calories, if desired.

For more great nutrition tips for caregivers and their families that are designed to help you make healthy choices during the Halloween season, join our webinar on Wednesday October 15^th at 2 pm EST. We’ll be sharing more healthy pumpkin recipes, along with a discount code for 10% off at Meals to Heal.