I decided that it would be fun to start posting some of my favorite healthy snacks that I eat. I want to keep these snacks always fresh in your mind, so I'm going to post a new one every week. Some of them will be foods that you have all the time, but never knew how beneficial they were. Some of them will be foods you thought were gross, but maybe deserve a second chance. Some of them may be foods you've never even heard of! Whatever the case may be, if you're out at your local grocery, remember to pick up a little of one of these foods and chew on them for thought!
About the Almond
The Almond (Prunus dulcis, syn. Prunus amygdalus Batsch., Amygdalus communis L., Amygdalus dulcis Mill.), is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus Prunus, it is classified with the peach in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated shell (endocarp) surrounding the seed.
The fruit of the almond is not a true nut, but a drupe, consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the seed ("nut") inside. Shelling almonds refers to removing the shell to reveal the seed. Almonds are commonly sold shelled, i.e. after the shells are removed, or unshelled, i.e. with the shells still attached. Blanched almonds are shelled almonds that have been treated with hot water to soften the seedcoat, which is then removed to reveal the white embryo.
(Source: Wikipedia.org)Ways to Enjoy the Almond
We have all seen almonds in their most common spotlight: Roasted and Salted. I won't lie; this is a great way to enjoy this delicious "nut". You can also try them raw! Raw almonds have a much sweeter taste, and they are just a little more filling than the roasted and salted variety. Eating them raw also doesn't leave you wanting to have a big drink of water afterwards either.
If you're not in the mood to eat them by the handful, you can always make them into a delicious almond butter. If you have a food processor, throw them in with a little bit of olive oil to make the butter. It takes a few minutes to do this, but it tastes delicious. I like to add a pinch of salt (if making it with raw almonds), some sugar, and some vanilla extract. Enjoy this butter on a fresh piece of fruit, like a banana!
Almonds are also great for being used as toppings on other foods like steaks, chicken, pork, and salads! Don't forget you can also throw them into a bag with raisins, macadamias, hazelnuts, and a little dark chocolate for a tasty trail mix.
Almond Nutrition
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