Op-Ed: Making your own pumpkin spice latte

As the air gets cooler, sometimes there is nothing like being cozy with a nice, warm drink. While I'm a fan of seasonal lattes, my favourite coffee houses aren't always looking for my health. But in the spirit of moderation, I decided to make my own.

A typical Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, for instance, contains 380 calories, 13 grams of fat and about 49 grams of sugar. Does this mean I will swear them off forever? No. I believe in living a balanced lifestyle, which means it is alright to treat one's self occasionally. But since pumpkins are packed with nutritional power, I did decide to start making my own version of this popular drink, which is healthy, lower in sugar and made with wholesome ingredients. Loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidants, a single scoop of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) will go a long way in revving up your morning brew. The results were delicious and made me want to point and laugh the next time I dodged the long lineups. Recipe Home-made pumpkin spice latte : Prep time : 10 mins. Cook time: 5 mins. Total: 15 mins. Ingredients: Pot of coffee 1/2 cup of milk Large spoonful of pumpkin puree 1 tbsp maple syrup Sprinkle other spices as you like, such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Optional: whip cream ontop, for an added touch of elegance. Directions: 1. Make a pot of hot coffee 2. Blend milk, puree, maple syrup and spices in a blender 3. Heat up on stove, using a small pot 4. Mix blend and coffee together.