Why I’m Nuts About Nuts
Many years ago, my then young son picked a piece of walnut up off his dinner plate and declared I was probably the only person in the world who would put nuts in pasta dishes. In my defense, I was serving a meal with a pesto-based sauce that evening, so nuts (as I had to explain) rightly belonged in that dish. Beyond pesto though, my family has come to expect nuts to show up in various ways throughout the day, in both meals and snacks.
So why have I gone “completely nuts” as my kids used to say? Even though nuts are still guilty of delivering a high calorie/high fat load, when eaten in moderation they contain vital nutrients, such as Omega-3’s and other health-promoting fats and protein elements which enable our bodies to be better fueled, and to fight off disease and slow the aging process. Plus, they keep you feeling full longer which helps to prevent overeating/over-snacking throughout the day.
The best nuts to eat, as far as Omega-3 content are walnuts. Almonds are high in calcium. Cashews are rich in iron. Pecans can protect against prostate enlargement in men. Pistachios have been shown to improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels…you get the picture; a handful of nuts contains a palm full of health benefits!
In my home, I find if I keep a variety of nuts in small plastic storage containers in the refrigerator, they stay super fresh and are ready to be “grabbed” at a moment’s notice.
Here are some creative ways to add more nuts to your diet this week:
- Include them in your next non-red sauce pasta dish (such as pesto or light cream-based)
- Stir them into your yogurt or oatmeal
- Sprinkle them on your cereal
- Mix them into whole grain pancakes, bread, or waffle batters
- Add them to baked goods, such as cookies, muffins, or cakes
- Toss them into chicken salad or green salads
- Use ground almond meal to replace some of the flour used while baking
- Simply grab a handful to snack on in between meals to keep your “hungries” in check
Once you start in on ‘em on a regular basis, I promise you, you’ll be nuts just like me!