Pumpkin Spice What?

Breakfast is always a challenge – how to get something delicious and nutritious on the table while frantically getting ready for work? The idea of something healthy that went into the fridge the night before and came out in the morning seemed too good to be true. I have been seeing recipes for overnight oats on my Pinterest feed for years and, with Fall quickly approaching and a leftover can of organic pumpkin puree sitting in the cupboard, the Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats seemed like a winner. Last night before bed I lovingly combined rolled oats, vanilla protein powder, almond milk, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice into mason jars. It quickly turned thick… dubiously thick. Still, I hoped for the best as I put them in the fridge.

This morning, breakfast was a snap – open jar, stir and serve. The only problem was that I served us two large servings of Pumpkin Spice Paste. It was awful. Neither of us was able to choke down more than four spoonfuls of the unpalatable pulp. After the first bite, I tried to tell myself I could save this recipe tomorrow with some sweetness (maple syrup, perhaps) but by the third bite, I had to admit defeat: this recipe is unsalvageable. I have been a pretty adventurous eater in terms of trying healthy recipes and, for the most part, have been pleasantly surprised. Not everything is the best thing I’ve ever eaten, but most of it is tolerably edible. This is only the second time in all my years of clean, healthy eating when I simply couldn’t muscle through a dish, coaxing myself along with reminders that food is fuel – the first was an instrument of torture masquerading as a vegan quiche. Food is only fuel when you can get it into the tank and the Pumpkin Spice Paste only made it as far as the trash can’s tank. Tomorrow: Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal.