Warning: Contains nutritional content!

I go through phases with food. Do you?

Last week, tucked away at the back of the cupboard, with some dates and lentils (long past their best before date) I found some pumpkin seeds. Actually two bags. Yum...?

I was intrigued. Firstly, how did they get there?! Next, what could I do with them?

I love to eat well and I enjoy my fruits and vegetables, filling me with all sorts of delicious, juicy vitamins and minerals. But nuts and seeds are probably the most difficult I find to eat, except possibly when they are disguised in baked goods! 

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of minerals like magnesium, manganese and zinc, so I thought I'd challenge myself.

There's something about the taste (sunflower seeds) or texture (Brazil nuts) that just makes me want to run away screaming. So how to incorporate these nutrient-rich, tiny morsels into meals?

The first brainwave I had was to hide them in my breakfast. So far, so good.

I should also admit I'm currently in a food phase of eating soya yogurt with coconut.  So, I concocted for breakfast: Weetabix with blueberries, yogurt and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds. They add a nice contrast in texture and the blueberries provide some sweetness to disguise the taste (perhaps I'll get used to it?).

Then I found a fabulously easy Nigella Lawson recipe, and you can't really go wrong with Nigella. Spinach, avocado and pumpkin seeds with a lime dressing. Bingo. Again, the lime overrides the taste and they give the salad a good crunch.

I'll be opening the second bag soon...

If you have any other tips for sneaking pumpkin seeds into real food, let me know! Challenge on.

If you haven't tried them yet, buy a bag of pumpkin seeds and pop them at the back of your cupboard. That way, in a couple of years you might just surprise yourself!

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