There are so many pumpkin flavored items saturating the grocery store shelves during this time of year, so I consulted the ultimate pumpkin guru for this pumpkin edition grocery store find round up.
I’m excited to collaborate with pumpkin loving dietitian, Maggie Michalczyk. You might know her on Instagram as @onceuponapumpkin. I thought I was pumpkin obsessed, but this girl takes it to a whole other level. I rely on her to keep me up to date on all the new pumpkin items hitting the grocery store shelves. Without further ado, I’ll let Maggie take it away with her pumpkin edition Grocery Store Picks for this month.
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As I sit down to write this, I’m finding it harder than I thought to narrow down my list of best pumpkin grocery store finds. As you know if you’ve walked into any grocery store since August, pumpkin spice mania is in nearly in every aisle in some way, shape or form. I’m talking chips, cheese, meats (yes, meats!), and air fresheners just to name a few. And while I’ll try anything pumpkin once, this list is full of staples in my pumpkin pantry that are worth hunting down this pumpkin season! I included some for their high nutrition, and some for their uniqueness and pumpkin taste alone. The bottom line is, I’m “pump”-ed when I go to the grocery store this time of year, and the pumpkin possibilities are truly endless!
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin & Butternut Squash Bisque
A new player in the pumpkin game, this bisque joins Trader Joe’s collection of over 150 pumpkin products! I have to admit, I was not a huge fan of their pumpkin soup. Not because it wasn’t good, but because it was not as thick as I would expect pumpkin soup to be. This bisque was the answer to my prayers and is made with ingredients I would use if I was making it at home like ginger, carrot, and no heavy cream. I’ve been topping it with a little parmesan cheese and fresh black pepper.
Kracker Pumpkin Seed Crisps
These “crisps” can best be described as large crackers, and I’ve been eating them with avocado on top as avocado “toasts” for some time now! Perfectly square shaped and extra crunchy because of the pumpkin seeds baked right in, these crackers also contain whole wheat, oats, flax seeds, and sunflower seeds! At 4 grams of proteins per serving, they are great to top with your favorite spreads. You can find them year-round at Whole Foods.
365 Organic Pumpkin & Sage Farro Pilaf
New for 2017 at Whole Foods, it took me some time to track down this pumpkin pilaf, and boy am I glad I did! Not only is it ready in less than 20 minutes, but I found it to be just as good the next day as leftovers. With notes of sage, black pepper and turmeric, I found it to be full of fall flavor and the ideal side dish to a meal on a cozy autumn night. I paired it with a glass of red wine too, another highly recommend accompaniment!
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Soup Crackers
In my opinion, they should drop the word “soup” in the name because these crackers can be eaten in so many other ways! With a slightly salty, pumpkin taste, I found them to be slightly addicting too! Paired with cheese, or dipped in hummus you can’t go wrong eating them in just about any way you like! These end up in my cart every time I’m shopping at Trader Joe’s this time of year, and I will buy a few extra boxes for when they are no longer available! Check out the other exclusive TJ’s pumpkin items I’m loving here.
Simple Mills Pumpkin Muffin & Bread Mix
If you don’t have the time (or energy!) to whip up pumpkin bread from scratch—fear not! Simple mills has your back in more ways than one because this mix makes both muffins and bread. Great for gluten-free pumpkin lovers because it’s made with almond and coconut flour. This mix tastes as indulgent as your coffee house pumpkin bread but with only 6 grams of sugar per serving (1 muffin or slice of bread), you can feel good about having it all fall long. Trust me, you’ll be hooked after your first batch! Find it at Whole Foods, or Fresh Thyme.
Health Warrior Pumpkin Seed Bar
Also new for 2017, Health Warrior has an entire line of bars that have pumpkin seeds as their first ingredient. Honey and spices are the only other things used to bring out the bold flavors of dark chocolate, honey cracked pepper and turmeric and cinnamon spice. I haven’t seen any other bar that makes pumpkin seeds the star, or with this simple of an ingredient list. I’ve even cut one up and used it as a salad topper for an extra crunch!
Califia Farm Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Brew
This coffee is definitely one of the pumpkin items I look forward to most when it comes back for the season! Maybe it’s the seasonably festive packaging (let’s admit, sometimes we FALL for it!), or the smooth pumpkin-y taste of this cold brew, that makes it so enjoyable to drink. It’s not overly sweet like some pumpkin drinks can be, and definitely a fun treat in the morning (I usually have a little cup in addition to my coffee!) Bonus that it’s soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, carrageenan-free, non-GMO, and vegan—making it a pumpkin coffee that those with certain dietary restrictions or preferences can enjoy too. Win, win!
Are you a pumpkin flavored fan? If so, what are your favorite pumpkin products?