There are many kinds of nuts in the world – peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews, pecans, etc. – but today we’re talking about almonds!
Most of the world’s almonds come from California – over 80%! There are over a half million acres of almond farms across the state of California. That’s a lot of almonds! Even though most almonds are grown in California, people all over the world enjoy this tasty nut. 🌎😋
Almonds are tasty in their simple nut form but almonds have taken on many forms over the past years. At the grocery store you may have seen almond milk, almond butter, almond flour, or even almond oil. Have you ever tried one of these products before?
You may have guessed that almonds are a good source of protein since we’ve been focusing on protein this month. Approximately 1 oz of almonds provides 6 grams of protein – that’s pretty good!
Almonds are a good source of many other nutrients, as well. The list below contains some nutrients you receive by eating almonds:
- Vitamin E: help prevent cell damage and support immune system
- Magnesium: needed for proper muscle and nerve function.
- Manganese: needed for converting food to energy and for healthy bones
- Fiber: helps your gut and blood sugar levels stay happy
- Unsaturated fat: this type of fat is better for your heart❤️
A handful of plain almonds makes a perfect snack but what else do you do with almonds besides eat them plain???
Here are some ideas:
- Sprinkle slivered almonds on a salad or on roasted veggies
- Use almond butter the same as you would use peanut butter
- Many baked good use almonds
- Use slivered almonds to decorate cakes or pies
- Roast raw almonds with your favorite seasonings
- Instead of peanut brittle, how about almond brittle?
- Sprinkle slivered almonds on ice cream
How do you like to eat almonds?
There are more the two dozen varieties of almonds but most almonds falls with three main categories. These categories include:
- Nonpareil: have a thin skin which is easily removed – often slivered, chopped, or halved.
- California: often used in manufactured products like almond flour.
- Mission: the skin is darker than the other varieties and absorbs different flavors well
Information for this past came from almonds.com and medlineplus.gov