Lower Calorie Pecan Pumpkin Butter

I have always been seriously allergic to peanut butter. If I ingest anything with peanut, I go into anaphylactic shock.

“Anaphylactic shock: A widespread and very serious allergic reaction. Symptoms include dizziness, loss of consciousness, labored breathing, swelling of the tongue and breathing tubes, blueness of the skin, low blood pressure, heart failure, and death. Immediate emergency treatment is required for this type of shock, including administration of epinephrine in the case of bee or wasp stings.”

-www.medicinenet.com

It’s absolutely terrifying, and for a really long time I avoided ALL nuts. A couple of years ago, I learned that peanuts aren’t actually nuts but are legumes. I have subsequently discovered that I am not allergic to nuts at all, and that legumes are the culprit!! I still till tend to avoid most nuts, but I do feel comfortable eating pecans and pistachios.

 I’ve always wanted to make my own nut butter. I absolutely love sunflower seed butter, but mot brands have added sugar.  I LOVE pecans, and have rarely seen pecan butter on grocery store shelves. Homemade pecan butter sounded pretty perfect to me! By making my own, I  avoid any unwanted ingredients and am aware of exactly what I’m putting into my body!

Sometimes, to save calories, I will mix sunflower seed butter with pumpkin puree. I adore the taste, and it bulks up the volume of sunflower seed butter without adding any calories or fat! I decided to combine pecans and pumpkin to make a deliciously sweet, lower calorie nut butter!

 This is my new favorite treat. Today I ate it on a banana before my workout and I felt amazing! It’s light, sweet, and perfectly satisfying!

Hope you’re having a fantastic Tuesday!