My typical daily eats look a little something like this: nut buttes, fruits, veggies, nut butter, cayenne pepper, tempeh, beans, nut butter, cinnamon, and nut butter. Basically I eat the same foods day in and day out, and the only deviations I usually make are for treats. I like to think the wicked healthy diet I eat balances out the treats I allow myself once in a while.
Sometimes my deviations take me away from my standard treats of just cupcakes and cookies. Sometimes I enjoy being wild. I’m not talking “see you on the 5 o’clock news” wild, I’m talking straying from my clean eats for season themed treats wild. When it’s fall and pumpkins are everywhere, I trip into the genius marketing traps faster than a mating rabbit.
Let’s take a look at last weeks “pre long run” dessert of choice. FOUR pumpkin Joe-Joe’s, at least 2 tblsp cashew butter, and a solid serving of vanilla coconut ice cream. Twice…in two days.
I thought I had it under control with the pumpkin themed treats by keeping it at one simple and happy box of cookies, but then I began to see pictures online of pumpkin this and pumpkin that…so after my 10 miler I went to Trader Joe’s…again.
With a sweaty face, and a determined spirit this is what I walked out with…
Breakfast Foods
I use the term “breakfast food” loosely because I don’t actually eat these for breakfast. I need something of solid substance and these two just aren’t solid in my book. I used the cereal for multiple desserts, and the bagels for a snack. The cereal was good, but the bagels knocked my pants off. I’m talking clear across the room off. Topped w/cashew butter and cinnamon.
If you take anything away from this post let it be this: get these bagels in your life right now. Don’t even look at the ingredient label, just put them in your cart.
Snack Foods
Fortunately for me, most of the snack items had dairy in them which made them easy to stay away from. These pita crisps however, did not. I basically had to wrestle my own arm to keep it out of the bag. This is not a safe scenario while driving. These.Are.Un.Real. Get them. Now.
Dessert Foods
Also known as, the most important meal of the day. As you already know I snagged a box of the pumpkin Joe-Joe’s, which took me all of two days to consume. I did have a little help. Those Joe-Joe’s were festive and fun, but Halloween would not be complete without at least one box of Halloween Joe-Joe’s, the one cookie I immediately turn into a 12 yr old child after purchasing.
Plus, I can’t deviate toooo much from my standard treat “norm.”
Fun Fact: This photo of Joe-Joe’s is from this post, where I first shared my love for pumpkin faced cookies as I finished my last week working at Trader Joe’s in 2012! I still miss that job…
How about a recipe?!
Pumpkin Pie Cereal Cluster
- 2 cups Trader Joe’s “Joe-O’s”
- 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1/4 cup cashew butter
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 tblsp cinnamon
- Mix together cereal, pumpkin seeds, and cinnamon.
- Heat on low to combine honey, cashew butter, and pumpkin puree. Once smooth pour over cereal.
- Set in fridge for 10 minutes. Serves three-four.
These were meant to be cereal bars, but didn’t hold together as well as I had hoped. The flavor was TOO GOOD not to share though, so make do with a cluster.
There you have it, my version of “PUMPKIN EVERYTHING.” I’d also like to note I did purchase substantial food items too like all this squash, pounds of honeycrisp apples, enough vegetables to power a mini van, and enough beans to (gas) power a tiny home, but these are wayyy more fun.
Q: Have you fallen prey to the pumpkin themed treats??
Blissfulbritt 
48 thoughts on “Not My “Standard” Deviation”
kathy@vodka and soda
i make my own pumpkin things – pumpkin butter being my new favorite and i just dump a huge spoonful of it into my oatmeal NOM
di @ life of di.
I tried to make some Pumpkin Avocado muffins a couple of days ago and failed miserably. I’m just not a baker. Boo. I haven’t purchased anything pumpkin flavored yet but I plan on enjoying a PSL from a local coffeehouse this weekend and maybe a bowl of pumpkin ice cream! Those Pumpkin O’s also look great – and I may checkout the Pumpkin bagels too! 🙂
Charlotte
I’m with you! i’ve been doing a really good job eating primal(ish) and completely gluten-free for the last month and a half, but this week i have not been able to say no to pumpkin bread. In fact the only thing i can say to pumpkin bread is “get in my belly” and “more please”… oh well, so worth it:)
Choc Chip Uru
OH NO I am all into SD and have no idea what it is 😛 Much prefer reading your post 😀
These clusters look ideal for a snack running from one class to another!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
B
Wait..there’s pumpkin cereal?! Where has this been my entire life?! I need it!
Heather
Are you joking me with this post?! I’m pretty sure you hacked my wordpress and stole my draft, haha. The Joe-Joes are flippin amazing! That recipe WILL be made… so clever you are 🙂 Going to TJ’s today… pita crisps are now on my list! I’ve always said sweets are the best glycogen boosters!
Abby @ Change of Pace
So funny how much you love pumpkin! I’m probably going to be kicked out of blogging forever, but I’m not a huge pumpkin fan! (I know, no coffee, no pumpkin, no sweet potatoes…who am I?)
P.S. Way to run!!
Brittany
It’s OK, I still love you. 😉
Ashley
dang it, I just went to TJ’s yesterday and didn’t know that I should have gotten the bagels! FAIL. Next time I will pick them up- glad to know they’re good!!
Kayla Vashti (@kaylavashti)
Damn you. Now I have to make those clusters. And I will be sure to wear a belt when I test out those bagels. (<<Me not caring what is on the ingredient label.)
Corrie Anne
What? I had no idea TJ’s had pumpkin cereal!!!!!!! That looks so good!!!!! I just tried the pumpkin pie lara bars the other day, and I love them!
Missy
You need to get on the Pumpkin Spice Oreos everyone is raving about, Girl!
Throw caution (and sense) to the wind! Don’t even bother reading the ingredients, we all know they’re crap. But a few (or a bag) crap cookies ain’t gonna kill us.
I had to do that with Golden Birthday Cake Oreos. Too curious. Life too short.
Brittany
AHH i know, Oreo’s are so dangerous and I can’t buy an entire package. If they made single serve packages I would think about it….but alas they do not. If I can find someone that has a pack I will gladly steal a few…
Rach @ This Italian Family
Those pumpkin bagels are calling my name! Why oh why don’t we have a TJ’s here?!
Hannah
So I’ve been unable to comment on wordpress blogs for like weeks. I was being flagged as spam (???), but it should be all fixed now. Perfect timing because I’m pretty sure you wrote this about me. I’ve been going crazy with sugary Halloween treats! Especially with Halloween Joe-Joe’s. They’re so good. All the sugar makes me feel crazy though. Worth it for now 🙂
Matt @ Runner Savvy
Lol nut butter is my fav too.
willrunforpizza
Trader Joe’s gets me every time. I really need to get there for all their pumpkin things. STAT!
Ellie
My job has pumpkin and apple cinnamon bagels for the Fall season! They are so good! The apple cinnamon one needs nothing on it and tastes delicious! I love earth balance and cinnamon sugar on the pumpkin one! 🙂 I wish I lived near a Trader Joes
Amy
Whoa whoa whoa… Pumpkin BAGELS??? Oh my GOSH, I need these in my life right now. Minus the fact that I’ve been carbo-loading for the past month because I’m finally allowed to eat wheat again. 😉 Maybe if I make them myself, I can justify eating them…
Brittany
OHHH Amy, you must get these bagels if you are cleared to eat wheat. I’ve been dabbling with more wheat intake lately and just try to keep everything in balance!!
Amy
I’ve been cleared!!! I’ve been slowly adding it back in, and I seem to be a-okay. Especially when it’s my mom’s double fiber English muffins… I love fiber. That’s all. 😉 Definitely giving these a try as soon as I can make it over to the store!!
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
Although I’m yet to try any pumpkin-based baked goods this year, I can’t get enough of it in savoury form- roasted & dipped in almond butter (or hummus)….it tastes absolutely divine! I love the idea of cereal clusters for a snack!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
As if you need any more beta carotene. Geeze louise.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Salted cashew butter? yes please! And pumpkin cereal? mmmmm
P
Oh, have I fallen into pumpkin bliss, that’s for sure. I was at TJs last weekend and managed to get all my “healthy” shopping done there as well as my not so healthy(?) Hmmm I don’t exactly consider their pumpkin bar baking mix as “junk”, especially when I adapted the recipe 😉
And have you seen their new cookies and cream cookie butter?! I need to make a separate shopping trip just for that, haha!
Brittany
OH man, that cookie butter looks SO good. It has dairy in it so I won’t be purchasing it, but I’d like to think of that as a positive because otherwise I would EAT THE ENTIRE THING.
Food, Booze, & Baggage
Now I feel like I need Pumpkin Joe Joe’s 🙂 It still so warm here I’m not feeling the pumpkin urge yet.
An Unrefined Vegan
I am ALL over pumpkin right now! Sure wish we had a Trader Joe’s in OK!
Christina Does It All
I LOVE bagels as snacks. We are totally on the same bagel page. Except maybe you’re a page ahead of me with these pumpkin ones. OMG I NEED THEM NOW!
Aja
So much pumpkin! I’m so basic when it comes to pumpkin. A girl came to my sandwich line at work yesterday who had just put on pumpkin latte scented hand sanitizer and we were all freaking out because we couldn’t figure out where it was coming from and it smelled so good.
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Britta
Britt!!! My beautiful Bean! Holy crap have I missed a lot. Can you believe this is the first time I’ve read a blog in MONTHS. Yes, its horrific. I need to jump back on the bandwagon immediately. I want all the things! ALL OF THEM. without questions.
I love your face and instead of re-winding and reading about what you’ve been up to, I am going to wait patiently for you to post and be surprised every time (like about the fact that you are in school)! Love your face!
Brittany
BRITTAAAA. Love you. That is all.
Ashley
I’m so jealous because my hometown just got a Trader Joes and now I live a solid 4 hour drive away from one! Maybe I can convince my mom to brave the crowds to get me a box of the pumpkin Joe Joes and the pumpkin butter…
But those cereal clusters look unreal and I can still make them without any TJs products!
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
Ugh don’t even get me started. I just looked at the Trader Joe’s newsletter thing an hour or so ago and I was just starting to forget about it until I saw this post. Pumpkin Joe Joes?? Unreal. Also, what do you think about the Cashew butter? How different is it from peanut butter and almond butter? Because I love pb but hate ab….so I don’t want to commit to a jar of cb haha
Brittany
The cashew butter definitely tastes different than the other nut butters, I don’t really know how to compare it though. I have had multiple cashew butters and the TJ’s version wasn’t my favorite. It’s VERY mild, but my friend loved it. If you want to try a cashew butter I would try the TJ’s version simply because it’s SO much cheaper than a lot of other places. Plus they are amazing about returns so if all else fails and you hate it you can always take it back and just buy another box of cookies.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
Haha right I forgot about that! Good old tjs. Great idea!!
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
I have recently paid a bomb (just like I do every year!) to have 4 cans of Libbys pumpkin puree imported from the US. The UK are nowhere near into pumpkin themed (or halloween!) things as the US….I seriously just want to come over to your country just to taste all the delicious food you guys have on offer!
theglowwithin.com
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I loved this line: “I trip into the genius marketing traps faster than a mating rabbit” and this line: “and enough beans to (gas) power a tiny home.” I totally got the subtle messages in both. Right there with you. Minus the pumpkin love. You will always be fabulous though. 🙂
Brittany
I should have known I could count on you to notice these things. You are the only one to comment about those lines. Thank you for being my blogging soul mate.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Those lines are the ones that tickle my fancy and keep me coming back for more. Those lines are double entendres and picture perfect imagery. Those lines are funny. Those lines are great writing.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Oh Canada… why you gotta be such a jerk? Actually, I should blame Joe for not introducing a TJ’s up here. You know what’s crazy? I’ve barely seen any pumpkin flavoured things up here… And today is Thanksgiving! You’d think they’d be all over that… Looks like I’ll just have to bake up my own treats, which I think I’m okay with 😉
Kate @ Another Clean Slate
You deserve credit for going after your 10 miler!
katalysthealth
holy pumpkin! and I thought I had it bad! 😉
I still need to get my hands on that cereal, but now I’ve got an even better reason to try them! this recipe looks and sounds ridiculously addictive…
Nicole Marie Story
I am soooo not a pumpkin kind of gal unless they’re baby pumpkins sitting elegantly in a vase on my glass desk:) xo
apartmentwife
oh gosh, i had no idea there were so many pumpkin flavored treats. should i be surprised? i usually walk the perimeter of the market – so veggies, fruits, dairy, meat, and end at register — and so i skip all the snacks and stuff in the center. now i think i’m missing out – the pumpkin pita crisps look so, so good! maybe i satisfy my new craving with your recipe? very likely.
allieksmith
I love all things pumpkin, too! I really like your recipe with the cereal!! It looks and sounds totally addicting 🙂
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