noshing

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Ah, the smell of pumpkin seeds toasting in a hot oven on a crisp autumn day. Hold up there — not in my oven, pal! If you want to avoid the hassles of harvesting these buttery-tasting goodies in an hour-long roast (or, in many cases, over-roast), Trader Joe’s has just the solution: roasted and salted pumpkin seeds.

What makes these snacks so appealing is their nutty flavor, salty goodness, and crunch factor. Plus, they’re ready to eat and easy to add to soup, salad, or trail mix. Even better, they’re low in saturated fat (only two grams per serving) and relatively high in protein (eight grams per serving).

But be forewarned: they have a high sodium level of 400 mg per serving. So if you’re watching your salt intake, Trader Joe’s raw pepitas (the Spanish word for " seed " ) are a good alternative. Or just live by a simple snacking rule, if you can: everything in moderation.

Available at Trader Joe’s stores; $1.99 for a 12-ounce bag.