I had planned to show off some banana nut muffins on the blog today, but our kitchen had a plumbing issue and I couldn’t bake. How terrible!

So instead, I have two product reviews of pumpkin related foods I’ve tried lately. I’m still on a pumpkin kick.

But first–a foot trick:

For the past month or so, my left heel has been sore. It started before the half marathon and hasn’t let off. It’s not terrible, but it’s noticeable. I googled “foot heel pain” (because Google is smart) and realized that it’s probably plantar fasciitis acting up. That is the reason I wear orthotics in my shoes, and it’s just being cranky. The treatment is to rest, but that’s boring and I’ve been taking it easy with a lot of yoga and not running. It was also recommended to roll my foot on a golf ball or tennis ball. Amazing! I highly recommend you roll your heel, arch, ball, sides, etc. on a golf ball. It made an immediate difference when walking.

Nature’s Path Pumpkin Flax Plus Granola

I bought this granola to add to oatmeal or cottage cheese, and it is crunchy and sweet, although I  don’t think it tastes much like pumpkin. Granola is usually high in calories and fat, and this was no different. For 3/4 C, it has 260 calories and 10 g fat, 6 g protein, 10 g sugar. It’s not great for you, and not a great addition of nutrients, just good tasting in moderation. I don’t know if I would buy it again besides for the taste because it’s so high in calories and fat. Grade: B-

Stonewall Kitchen Pumpkin Butter

I have been using this pumpkin butter on a variety of things, like toast, apples, muffins, etc. It is low in calories and similar to a jam in nutritional info. The color is a pretty burnt orange, and it also goes great with peanut butter on a sandwich. The stats are for 1 tablespoon: 30 calories and 6 g sugar. So it is a little better than a jam. I recommend it to add a little pumpkin flavor to whatever you’re cooking. Good anytime of the year. Grade: A

Have you tried anything new lately? Share it here!