HEATHER + ALIX

The Champagne Theory

Trader Joe’s Hit or Miss: The Pumpkin Edition

Every year Trader Joe’s surprises me with their pumpkin game and this year is no different. In this post when I’m say “hit” or “miss” this is in regards to it’s nutritional content, not taste. Full disclosure I haven’ not personally tried many of these products. I have no doubt many of them taste delicious, but leave it to me to rain on your pumpkin parade and analyze the ingredients 😉

Pure pumpkin has a lot of wonderful health benefits that I wrote about here, but highly processed pumpkin products do not. I know some people are super into the pumpkin spice everything, so I headed to Trader’s to review their top pumpkin products and share what I’m into and what I’m passing on this season. Please read before throwing pumpkin everything into your cart in the name of fall.

HITS
Pumpkin Perfect Bars
Pumpkin Rx Bars
Autumnal Harvest Soup
Organic Pumpkin Puree
Fall Harvest Salsa
Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Zucchette Pasta & Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce
Riced Cauliflower & Butternut Squash Risotto
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese (for the kids)
Spaghetti Squash Spirals
Fall vegetables: spaghetti squash, acorn squash, butternut squash |

So good!!!
Rx bars always get a thumbs up from me
Overall, a pretty good option if you’re wanting a fall soup!
I made this combo a lot last year for Quinn!
I haven’t tried it, but ingredients look solid
Organic pumpkin puree is a great base when baking your own pumpkin goodies! Healthiest way to enjoy pumpkin!
Enjoy all the fall vegetables!

MISSES
Pumpkin Spice Almond Beverage
Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix
Pumpkin Bisque
Pumpkin Ravioli
Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix
Pumpkin Mini Ice Cream Cones
Pumpkin Bagels
Pumpkin Joe Joe’s and Halloween Joe Joe’s
Cinnamon Bun Spread (++added suagr)
Pumpkin Spiced Pumpkin Seeds (++added sugar)
Caramel Apple Flavored Granola (++added sugar)
Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Mix (first ingredient is sugar)
Pumpkin Rolls with Pumpkin Spice Icing (eeeeek!!)
Fall Leaf Tortilla Chips and Pumpkin Tortilla Chips (vegetable oil)

Not the best way to start your day…
Could be a fun treat for the kiddos, but not healthier or better than normal cookies
Honestly these are not terrible, but made with canola oil which isn’t a fave of mine
My guilty pleasure. SO much added sugar, but YOLO! Bought one pack of the pumpkin ginger then calling it quits.
22 grams added sugar…enough said.
I’m just not a fan of prepackaged mixes like this. It’s really easy and so much healthier to make your own with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
A lot of added sugar that you can control if you make your own!
This is a hard miss. Skip it!!

Non-food pumpkin products to load up on:

decorative pumpkins, dogs treats, vanilla pumpkin candles, wreaths, pumpkin spice coffee, face masks, hand soap, etc.

Of course I’m not saying you can’t splurge and have a little fun, but pick and choose your favorites and find ways to make healthier versions with organic pure pumpkin puree and spices! My splurge has been the mini pumpkin ginger ice cream cones…nutritionally I know they are garbage, but OMG do they taste good! Gotta live a little 😉

Happy fall!

xx,
Alix

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