Almonds-A Healthy Food

Almonds – A Healthy Food

 

Almonds are good for you. They have fiber, protein, and vitamins, as well as minerals and antioxidants. While almonds are high in fat, about 14 grams per ounce – most of it is the heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Along with the protein, it provides a feeling of fullness. Because they are low in carbohydrates, almonds won’t make your blood sugars spike.

Although almonds originated in the Middle East, California is now the world’s largest producer.
Almonds are a very versatile. Here are some ideas for using almonds in food preparation.

• Snacking – Mix together almonds, pieces of dark chocolate, coconut and dried cranberries.
• Vegetables – Add almonds to salads and top cooked vegetables with slivered or sliced almonds.  
• Crust – Crush or chop almonds into fine pieces and mix with melted butter and herbs to be used as a coating for fish or poultry.
• Baking – Sprinkle almonds on top of baked goods for added crunch. Add slivered or chopped almonds to cookies, pastries and cakes. They can also be used in place of a streusel topping for pies. When making a filling for coffee cakes or cookies that call for nuts, use almonds.

Store almonds in a cool dry place. For longer storage, place in the freezer for up to two years.