The Pumpkin Spiced Life Food Philosophy

Why We Lean away from Many Processed Foods and Some Grains

This post has nothing to do with pumpkins, spices, or lattes, but it has a great deal to do with comfort and health.

This website has always been centered around finding fulfillment in the simple pleasures of life since my battle with cancer and genetic and autoimmune diseases. Drastically altering my own lifestyle has always been my goal in an effort to recover from my own physical trials. However, this past year we implemented a MAJOR SHIFT in our entire family’s “pumpkin spiced life.”

Over the course of the past few years, a handful of my family members have developed some noteworthy food sensitivities which merited some close attention. I’m fortunate for my training as a certified gut health nutritionist and a licensed skincare therapist, because that training helped me to recognize the signs in their skin, hair, and physical health. One of my little ones in particular has a significant sensitivity to gluten. Others are still exploring the best options to achieve their personal versions of peak wellness. All of our shifts have propelled us on a very expensive, time-consuming journey.

Nobody enjoys drastic change, and you can see from any given page on this site that there is a major mix between the recipes here. Being more than 10 years old, this website has a lot of recipes that existed long before the need for our own dietary adjustments were realized.

While my end-goal certainly will be to create as many adaptable ingredient alternatives as possible in the recipes shared here, not everything you see here is always going to be Gluten-Free, Vegan, Egg-Free, or Vegetarian, etc. That said, I do strive to make all the recipes here fully adaptable to anyone’s unique dietary needs. It will take time to update and implement many changes… just like the meals which we provide for our little family.

This is where I rise to the occasion! I am a recipe developer. Food science is something that I quite enjoy. I love altering heirloom recipes and other special recipes for various desired outcomes, especially if it helps maintain a person’s quality of life while still providing them the simple joys of their favorite comfort dishes.

What is our Food Philosophy here at Pumpkin Spiced Life?

At the core, we believe that you must eat how you desire to feel.

Eat healthy to be healthy. Everything in moderation, including moderation. Celebrate life in every moment, and cherish your body the best you know how.

Everyone is different, and their dietary needs are bio-individual and unique. This does not make one food philosophy better than another, nor do I believe that makes one person better than another. I support everyone in finding what works best for them. Indeed, I encourage every person to experiment and experience various food cultures and dietary alternatives. Life is meant to explore, learn, grow and enjoy.

Natural Foods

Too often, as a nutritionist, I speak with people who experience food guilt which has been indoctrinated into them from the latest social media craze. The worst thing someone can do is to stop all eating fruits and vegetables simply because they cannot afford what some random schmo on their feed told them they need to buy.

Organic food is wonderful. It’s full of beneficial microorganisms which are great for your gut. Conventionally grown produce is also wonderful. They contain a lot of beneficial nutrients and microorganisms, too. Frozen, canned, pre-prepared, peeled, packets, dried, suspended in flavored gelatin… Just Get Some Nutrients which Mother Earth Grew for You!

Do what you can to incorporate lots of healthy fruits and veggies into your diet, but don’t feel badly if that looks differently for you than it does for another person. Every person is on a different journey. Purchase and consume what you have access to! Nobody has a right to judge another when they’re doing the best that they can.

Processed Foods

I am never going to condemn someone for eating differently than us. And we DO NOT eat flawlessly, ever. (Nobody does. If they claim that they do, then I’m confident that they’re fibbing.) Can I be completely honest here? I cannot live without Cheetos… or M&M’s… or a frozen custard.

I’ll never think ill of someone for loving a packaged product that instantly transports them back to a perfect, nostalgic, comforting moment. Food, in its essence, is about nourishment. Nourishment comes in countless forms. That looks different for everyone.

Gluten and Grains

For us, we have found the best satisfaction leaning away from gluten (such as wheat, barley, and rye). At times, I miss it terribly because there is significant satisfaction in a freshly-baked loaf of bread with honey butter. I find it frustrating occasionally, as I will discover yet another product or ingredient which has to be eliminated from our lifestyle due to malt extract or caramel coloring. This does not make gluten products the enemy. Occasionally I will still create, bake, and share such delights which include some of these “forbidden ingredients.” Most of the time, we try other options for the sake of the sensitive ones in our home.

This process has also created an important awareness in respect to avoiding ingredient cross-contamination (from ingredients or from home preparation) or creating a grain-free version of a beloved recipe immediately before creating the traditional version. And it has created a significantly more diverse appreciation for the numerous grains and pseudo-grains which do still work into our diet.

Sugars and Sweeteners

What are refined sugars?

Refined sugars and sweeteners come from many sources which include cane sugar, beet sugar, corn and agave syrup, and more. The harvested plants are cleaned, cooked, juiced, etc., and the sugary juices are extracted. The liquid is filtered and further processed until the liquid crystalizes. The crystals are spun to remove any residual liquid, which becomes molasses, leaving behind dried sugar crystals. The type of sugar (sucrose, glucose, fructose, etc.) is different for each source and can even vary from one batch to another.

Listen, I’m not the sugar judge, but I’m also not going to tell you that it’s good for you. Refined sugar is not your friend… it’s just not. But you’re not going to be condemned for keeping it in your diet. That said, I don’t plan to lie to you– Refined sugar doesn’t give anyone’s body love. It doesn’t offer very many nutritional benefits.

A diet high in refined sugars has been linked to obesity, countless autoimmune disorders and diseases, heart disease, diabetes, mood and mental health conditions, and more. Furthermore, studies have shown that sugar has a significant impact on the dopamine receptors in the brain, causing a stimulation and addiction effect similar to cocaine. This, obviously, is not the case for all people, as every body and every lifestyle is different, but these are major factors to take into consideration when choosing what types of sugars you consume on a regular basis.

I am not saying that you have to avoid added sugar at all costs. Simply, that a diet high in refined sugar may affect your physical and/or mental health, so it is best to be mindful and to minimize your added sugar intake. However, don’t hesitate to enjoy treats in moderation as part of a well-rounded diet. Make an effort to eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods, especially vegetables and fruits, to follow a healthier diet. For optimal health, strive to enjoy foods which are high in added sugar only sparingly.

Do I feed my family sugar? Yes, of course; but we try to moderate it and add a wide variety of alternative sugar sources as often as possible. I’m not a helicopter mom, and I’m not going to tell my children that they have to deprive themselves of things when they are living their lives within or outside our home. My job is to educate them as much as possible so that they can feel prepared to make their own informed decisions for their health.

Being a recipe developer, I have found numerous opportunities to replicate heritage recipes with new ingredients to make them more approachable for healthier living. I have found massive success in utilizing alternative sweeteners such as honey, coconut or date palm, stevia, maple syrup, fruit and more.

Preservatives, Additives, & Dyes/Colorants

Preservatives have an extremely important purpose. They are added to foods not only to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage, but also to slow the growth of bacteria, mold, or fungi. Some preservatives are completely harmless or even beneficial to the diet and gut biome. Some, however, are very destructive and detrimental to the gut and body. I urge everyone to be incredibly mindful and selective when it comes to the ingredients and preservatives that they’re willing to put into their bodies. In case nobody told you recently, not everything that goes into your body easily is able to exit your body as easily, or at all. Be diligent in researching what you choose to tolerate from the food industry versus what you determine most definitely should not belong in your life. This includes the products we put onto our bodies as well as what we ingest.

Watch for an increase in symptoms (keep a food journal as often as you can) make the best judgments for your family, and help yourself by making better choices whenever possible. Looking for these signs of sensitivity can help in discovering if additives, preservatives, or colorants have been put into foods even when not listed clearly on the labels. We don’t have a perfect track record, but we do our best to avoid synthetic, lab-derived, and otherwise harmful additives. This is the main reason we also avoid many processed and pre-packaged foods. Be aware of the reactions, even minor ones, that can have had an affect on you or those closest to you.

Our Ultimate Goal

Our goal is to gradually shift our narrative in the Standard American Diet food culture from overly processed foods, artificial ingredients and preservatives, and processed sugars to help people feel more confident in seeking diversity in their foods, ingredients, and nutrients. We want people to remember how approachable food should be, and that they should be able to access a diverse range of ingredients to improve their sense of wellbeing without struggle.

At the core, we believe that you must eat how you desire to feel.
Eat healthy to be healthy. Everything in moderation, including moderation.
Celebrate life in every moment, and cherish your body the best you know how.

Heather I. Scott

For further reading:

The Problem with Preservatives by Dr. Katrina Rounkles