A Nourishing Pumpkin Pie You Can Feel Good About This Holiday
Happy Holidays Everyone!!!
The holidays are a beautiful time of connection, celebration, and tradition and food is such a big part of that.
But for many of us, including myself, the season can also bring that old familiar guilt around certain foods, especially those sugary treats .
That’s why I love creating recipes that honour both:
Nourishment
Pleasure
This pumpkin pie is one of those recipes, a holiday treat that feels indulgent, but is actually deeply supportive for your gut, hormones, nervous system, and blood sugar.
It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar-free, and made with whole, functional ingredients that help your body feel calm, steady, and nourished.
Why This Pumpkin Pie Is Actually Supportive for Your Body?
Let’s take a quick look at what makes this dessert different:
Pumpkin
Rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), which supports:
Skin health
Immune function
Gut lining repair
It’s also gentle on digestion and naturally soothing to the GI tract.
Coconut Milk
Provides healthy fats that:
Support hormone balance
Keep blood sugar stable
Help you feel satisfied (instead of craving more sweets)
Walnuts
A great source of omega-3 fats which:
Reduce inflammation
Support brain and nervous system health
Help regulate mood
Maple Syrup
A natural sweetener that contains trace minerals and causes less of a blood sugar spike than refined sugar.
Warming Spices (Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves)
These spices:
Support digestion
Reduce bloating and gas
Improve insulin sensitivity
Increase circulation and warmth, perfect for this time of year!
Here’s a Gentle Reframe Around Holiday Treats I want you to consider…
One of the most important parts of wellness is emotional safety and nervous system regulation.
When we allow ourselves to enjoy food with presence, gratitude, and pleasure, especially in a social, festive context, it sends powerful signals of safety to the body.
That safety itself is healing.
So instead of restriction or guilt, this recipe is an invitation to:
Enjoy the season
Nourish your body
Stay connected to tradition
And support your health at the same time
Nourishing Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Pie Crust Ingredients:
2 cups walnuts
1 tbsp coconut oil
22 dates
¼ tsp sea salt
½ tsp cinnamon
Pie Filling Ingredients:
1 can organic pumpkin purée
1 cup full-fat coconut milk (from the can)
¼ cup maple syrup
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
⅛ tsp ground cloves
Preparation
Pie Crust:
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Add all crust ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor and pulse until it becomes a thick, crumbly paste.
Press mixture into a glass pie dish.
Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from oven.
Pie Filling:
5. Blend all filling ingredients until smooth.
6. Pour filling into the pre-baked crust.
7. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F and bake for another 30 minutes.
8. Keep an eye toward the end so it doesn’t over-brown.
Let cool for at least 60 minutes before serving so it sets properly.
Enjoy!
Just a reminder that wellness isn’t about perfection.
It’s about learning how to support your body while still fully living your life.
This pie is one small way you can enjoy the sweetness of the season while still honouring your health, physically, emotionally, and socially.
Wishing you a warm, joyful, and nourishing holiday season
Sincerely,
Nancy Pitre
Health & Wellness Coach