Smart Snack: Almonds

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Hi Friends!

Thanks to Blue Diamond for sponsoring this post. I think I might be developing an obsession with blog series! I’ve been wanting to start up this little series for a while now and I’m finally getting around to it. I get a lot of questions about snacks from my readers. What do I eat for a snack? What are some healthy snacks? What are some on-the-go snacks that I can keep in my bag?

So, I thought it would be fun to do a few spotlight posts on some of my favorite snacks! I’m starting with almonds for a few reasons:

  • They’re a staple in my pantry.
  • Hubby & I eat them every day.
  • They great for your heart.
  • February is National Heart Health month.

Heart Healthy Almonds

I’m also using this post as an opportunity to highlight one of my favorite companies: Blue Diamond Almonds.

Blue Diamond will actually be sponsoring my trip to Blend Retreat in May!!!! Yippee!!! More to come on that soon 🙂

If you know me, or have been reading my blog for a while now, you know that I’m pretty picky when it comes to the companies I work with. I don’t do a whole lot of sponsored posts and I turn down a lot of opportunities to work with companies simply because they don’t fit with what I believe/don’t fit with this blog.

All that being said, Blue Diamond is one company that I’m proud to work with! I love their products (heck- I buy them even when I’m not working with them) and I love all the people that represent them as a company.

Blue Diamond is a proud supporter of Heart Health month and is encouraging everyone to learn more about the importance of keeping your heart healthy!

———————–

So let’s talk about heart health for a minute. I’m sure most of you have heard that almonds are good for your health, and here I am telling you guys what a great snack they make…but do you know why?

BD_Can6oz_WN_New_FD

Here’s a little background:

The FDA approved the following claim in 2003:

“Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

What exactly does that mean? Not to get all science-y on you but here’s a brief review:

Cholesterol is made up of HDL and LDL, which need to be kept in balance. When LDL is too high, it builds up on cell walls and creates plaque, which can clog blood vessels. This can cut off blood supply to the heart, or plaque can break off and cause blood clots which can lead to heard attacks and strokes. By lowering the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood, you give the HDL a chance to clean up the excess LDL and prevent plaque from building up, thus reducing your risk for heart disease. Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., finding ways to decrease the risk is important.

See why almonds are a great addition to your everyday diet? If you’re still not convinced, here’s a few more benefits of almonds:

  • They’re high in monounsaturated fat
  • They’re a good source of fiber
  • They’re a good source of Vitamin E, Magnesium & Copper
  • They’re a good source of protein
  • They can help improve insulin sensitivity
  • They can help reduce inflammation

Bottom line: Almonds are a smart snack for more reasons than one.

However, there is one thing  you should keep in mind. Almonds are a fairly high calorie snack, so make sure you stick to the correct portion size! A serving is 1 oz. That equals about 23 whole almonds. In that serving, you’ll find about 160 calories, 14 grams of fat (only 1 of which is saturated), 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

BD_Bag16oz_WN_AHA

So we know why they’re good for you and how many you should eat…all that leaves is HOW you should eat them, right?

A few suggestions:

  • Raw and plain
  • In your trailmix
  • As an oatmeal topping
  • Mixed with yogurt
  • Ground into almond butter

Almonds are a heart healthy snack that can be eaten a variety of ways. Here are few ideas!

Let’s chat: Do you like almonds? What’s your favorite way to eat them?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

 

 **This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond. All thoughts and opinions are my own**

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Comments

  3. We have our office stocked with nuts so the best part is…snacking healthy and not having to pay for them. It’s great working at a health center LOL! 😉 I love this series too!

    Reply

  8. Sad to say, but I typically buy Blue Diamond almond in the form of milk! ha! So, I’m missing he fiber, but I am getting the magnesium and vitamin E for sure 🙂 I typically buy my almonds in bulk to save some money, or Emerald’s cocoa roasted almonds, they are so addicting. But the blue Diamond Almond Milk is my favorite! I’ll have to post a heart on Instagram.

    Reply

  9. I love almonds. I usually keep some at work in my mailbox or locker if I run out of other food, so I make good choices 🙂 I love them because they are full of fiber and protein like you said! I like just eating them plain or chopping them up and adding them to protein balls!

    Reply

  10. While I like to vary my snacks, I always end up packing almonds for my snack maybe four times a week because, they’re yummy, and SO quick and easy to pack!

    Reply

  15. I love, love, love almonds! I usually eat them every day as well. My favorite way is probably raw plain almonds. They have such great flavor just by them self. I also love putting them in bars I make or blending them up into yummy almond butters!!!

    Reply

  27. Great post about one of my favorite nuts! I always keep almonds on hand. I love to make my own almond butter and even almond milk!

    Reply

  29. What an awesome blog sponsor! They’re a great company. I need to work on pitching to companies for trip sponsorships. I love nuts but am trying to figure out what is causing my IBS and am a little worried raw nuts might be a culprit. 🙁

    [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.

    Reply

  31. I’m not a huge nut lover. For years, I didn’t eat nuts or anything with nuts in it. Then I discovered almonds. They’re so different from other nuts! Now I put them on my salad, in my smoothies, protein bites, cookies, everything! And I love almond milk! Just read an Outside magazine list of 6 superfoods for athletes – almonds were on the list!

    Reply

  33. Almonds are my favorite snack too! And Blue Diamond is hands down the best brand out there. They have amazing flavor choices. Some of my favorites are Habanero BBQ, Wasabi, Lime N’ Chili, and Honey Dijon. I have a hard time sticking to the 1 oz serving size. I could almost eat a whole tin in one sitting. I’ve been slightly afraid I might actually turn into an almond.

    Reply

  34. I eat almonds whenever I need some quick energy or even just a quick snack! They taste great and are very healthy! Also a great source of protein!

    I also love the flavour choices as well ^^

    Reply

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