Sawdust Chic: A Love Letter to Pumpkin Seeds

 

So apparently today, October 1, is National Pumpkin Seeds Day. Because of course there’s a national day for everything. (Somewhere out there, “National Paperclip Day” is waiting for its turn to shine.)

But this one? I’ll actually celebrate. Because pumpkin seeds (pepitas) have been my survival snack in the ongoing saga of what on Earth can I still eat without my body staging a protest?

The Underdog Snack

Pumpkin seeds are tiny, green, and look unimpressive. They don’t get the glamorous treatment of kale chips or goji berries. But they quietly deliver magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium, and even a dose of plant-based omega-3s. Basically, it’s like a multivitamin in a shell—except you don’t have to fight a child-proof bottle to get to it.

Your nervous system especially loves magnesium (think: less twitchy wires), while zinc and selenium help the immune system run like it actually knows what it’s doing (someone please send that memo). Not bad for something that looks like it fell out of a trail mix bag.

Prep School 101

Here’s the trick: pumpkin seeds, like all seeds, come armored with defense compounds. Eat them straight out of the bag and you might as well be chewing on their attitude.

So, I soak mine—not in salt water (salt and high blood pressure-uhm), but in vinegar water. Same effect, fewer grudges. Then I dry them out, grind them up, and voilà: my fiancé’s favorite punchline. “sawdust.” It’s an almost daily ritual in my house.

Yes, it looks like sawdust. Yes, it tastes… earthy. But sprinkled into soup, hidden in veggies, or blended into goat milk mixed with banana? It’s stealth nutrition. I also add it to drinking water (or, as Tom calls it, turn it into brown water) because for people with electrolyte problems plain water causes its own issues.

Every Food Has a Plot Twist

Pumpkin seeds aren’t alone in this game. Fruit hides sugar grenades. Leafy greens sneak in oxalates. Even meat brings sulfur surprises. Every food has its fine print. Which is why preparation isn’t just optional—it’s survival.

Fun Fact Detour

Here’s something most people don’t know: food intolerances aren’t always about the food. Sometimes they’re about the wiring. When the nervous system is overloaded—stressed, inflamed, or just plain worn thin—it can mistake everyday foods for invaders. That means even healthy foods can trip the alarm. Which is why calming the system matters just as much as what’s on the plate.

Raise Your Sawdust Glass

So today, instead of carving pumpkins, I’m tipping my hat to the humble seed. Ground, soaked, disguised as culinary sawdust—whatever it takes. Because in a world where the pantry feels like a minefield, pumpkin seeds are one of the few allies I’ve got.

And hey, they even have their own holiday. Not bad for sawdust.