Almond Butter Love Affair
There’s a variety of nut butters: almond, brazil, cashew, hazelnut, walnut….
But my favorite (and easily available on the grocery store shelves) is almond butter. I used to be a peanut butter fan until I made the switch to almond butter and figured out that my body processed it much better than peanut butter. (Side note: Peanut butter is actually a legume such as a tomato is a fruit. Yeah, I didn’t know that until a couple years ago, either).
And then I read up on the endless health benefits of almond butter: no cholesterol or trans fats, great source of protein and Omega 3 fatty acids, rich in antioxidants, helps control blood sugar (preventing spikes), and are a good source of potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
While each person’s fat intake is different, I make sure I keep my serving to no more than one or two tablespoons per day.
Spreadable Snack Ideas:
- Measure out one tablespoon into a small dish and slice a banana on top. Toss a few chocolate chips into the mix if you’re looking for that nut butter/chocolate fix.
- Distribute a serving between the cracks of few celery sticks. Get crazy and sprinkle a few raisins on top.
- Make a half almond butter/jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread. Serve with milk.
- Slice up an apple and pair with a serving of almond butter. Use the slices to scoop up the almond butter.
- Spread over a whole grain rice cake. (I like the Honey Nut rice cakes made by Lundberg Family Farms). Add a little bit of jelly to sweeten it up. Enjoy with a cup of coffee or hot green tea for the ultimate Fall snack.
The one downside: almond butter can be expensive. But I recently discovered the almond butter machine at my local co-op. It’s a little less expensive per ounce than almond butter sold in the jar. The machine is typically located in the bulk product section, filled with raw almonds, and looks like an old fashioned appliance. There isn’t much oil extracted, which is convenient: once stored in the fridge at home, you won’t have to stir through the oil with each serving as you may with many jars.
Otherwise, you can find jars of almond butter sold along side the other nut butters. Bonus points if you can find one made without any additional ingredients, using raw almonds as it’s only source. There are also methods of making almond at home using a food processor or a machine specifically designed to make nut butters.
If you haven’t already, it’s time to consider starting your own love affair with almond butter. Mmmmm…the nutty goodness awaits……..
Make your life healthy,
Janet
