Almonds – Let’s get NUTS about getting healthy!

Today we are going to talk about Almonds!

Wahooo!

I absolutely love almonds. I love them raw, smoked, in “granola” bars, ground to put in cookies, etc etc.

Almonds are one of the nuts you will always find in my snack mixes.

Did you know that almonds are *gasp* healthy for you?

* According to the Loma Linda School of Public Health, people who consume nuts at least 5 times a week have approximately a 50% reduction in their risk of having a heart attack.

* The flavonoids  found in the skin of almonds work together with the vitamin E  in almonds to help reduce the risk of heart disease.

*The phosphorus found in almonds helps to maintain strong bones & teeth.

Did you know that almonds are good for weightloss?

Even though nuts are considered to be high in fat(it is considered a “healthy” fat), it has been found that those whom consume nuts frequently are on average thinner  than those who almost never consume nuts.

It has been found that people who consume nuts a minimum of twice per week were 31% less likely to gain weight than those who rarely or never consume them.

* Almonds contain riboflavin and L-carnitine, nutrients that boost brain activity and may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Almond Nutrition Facts: 

* One ounce (approximately 20-25 almonds) is an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, fiber and protein.

* Almonds are full of minerals : magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, copper, potassium,  iron, and also B vitamins.

 * Heart-healthy with monounsaturated fat, almonds are also cholesterol-free.

* 20-25 almonds (1 ounce) contain as much calcium as 1/4 cup of milk

AND

 about the same amount of antioxidants as a serving of broccoli

How to Properly Store Your Almonds:

I have always kept mine in the baggie from the bulk store, up on a shelf. BIG MISTAKE!

I recently learned that you should keep your almonds in the fridge in an air tight container. Doing this helps the almonds from going rancid. Keeping them in the fridge, they will last up to 2 years! If you want them to last even longer, simply place them in an airtight container in your freezer, where they should last up to 4 years!

This means you can buy in bulk to save money and be able to keep them fresh until you use them all up!

How to eat almonds…wait..what? There’s a wrong way?!

I also recently learned from my sister in law ( Carin Day Fitness ) that I should not just be pulling an almond out of the bag and eating it . Almonds are actually hard to digest and may cause upset to your pancreas.

To ease with digestion and get the most health benefits from an almond, it is best to soak them in water overnight (use 2 cups of water for every 1/2 cup of almonds). Then drain them and store in the fridge.

Please note that after soaking them, they will only last for about a week!!

So only soak what you plan on using up right away!

* I have read recommendations of using a glass or BPA-free bowl as well as purified water for this soaking process. Another variation suggests soaking them in salt water.

** Be sure to fully dry your nuts or they could become moldy. One page suggests using your oven at 150 degrees and another page suggests using a dehydrator at 100 degrees. I suggest that you research this and choose your own method based on your resources. I will be combining paper towel and air drying for mine!

** If you are looking for a healthier oil for cooking try almond oil as it is great for cooking at high temperatures.

If you are looking to include almonds in your diet, please check out NUTS.COM they have a variety of almonds and almond products at great prices !

Have a great day! Now go get NUTS about your healthy snacks!

~Heather xoxoxox

 

NatureBox – Product Review #2

Alright, so I am back with my second review of the monthly subscription to Naturebox. This month I received a regular subscription box of 5 full sized products and 1 add-on item.

As promised in my last review, Product Review – Naturebox, I ordered 2 products that I knew that I would like             (although both items that I knew I would like I had never tried yet!), 1 product that I am unsure if I will like it or not and 2 that I am already convinced that I will not like.

I have to mention that when I got charged for this month’s subscription I was a bit shocked at the charges. It was about $10 more than I had expected. That was my own fault though as I had forgotten about the exchange rate! Doh!

A monthly subscription is $19.95USD (for 5 items) plus $7.95USD shipping to Canada.

The total then becomes – $27.90USD which equals $35.46 Canadian

This works out to be approximately $7.10 Canadian/bag . I also had an add-on item this month which cost me an extra $1.

Now some of you may say $7.10/bag ?!??! Are you crazy, that’s expensive for a snack!! So, I did some research online and tracked down some brands that offered similar products. This month I had an add-on of a “granola bar”, they are only $1/each. Another “high end” company charges $1.60 per bar. Bagged nut/fruit mixes from “gourmet” / health food companies were anywhere from $14.95 to $19.95 a bag and were SMALLER amounts!

The other thing I want to mention, is that when you eat good quality food that tastes great, you are less likely to overeat!! You are left feeling more fulfilled. You also are less likely to get a sugar crash. 

So, let me remind you of something:

Naturebox’s products are QUALITY. I would even go so far as to call them Gourmet snacks because of the quality.They come in resealable pouches. The pouches do not have a lot of air in them like some other companies tend to do, and they taste AMAZING!

I have a very discerning palate. I am fussy. I do not normally enjoy gourmet or healthy food.

Naturebox promises you this:

 

I don’t know about you, but I think that that’s pretty awesome! I like to know what I am eating and that my choices are getting better.

 

So, now to move on to this month’s selections!!

Are you excited?

I know I am, this month’s box was a bit of a shocker!

Let’s start with my favorite, and the one I knew I would LOVE. Jalapeno White Cheddar Popcorn

 

 

 

Oh, my goodness. This popcorn is absolutely the most wonderful popcorn I have EVER had. EVER.

Big puffs of creamy and spicy goodness. The popcorn itself was big, light and fluffy, wonderful quality. The white cheddar cheese coating was thick and creamy. The kicker was the real jalapeno flakes that encrusted each and every morsel. I could not stay away from this bag for very long.

I almost considered making next month’s box entirely popcorn, that is how much I love it.

I will be honest to say that it is not overly spicy as the cheese helps take away a bit of the kick but, if you do not like spicy, then I would suggest picking another snack. For me I would say it was a 4/10 on the spicy but a definite 10/10 on the overall taste!

Next up we have what I thought would be another “safe” choice: Tart & Tangy Fruit Medley

(currently not available on their website)

Dried fruit is usually a good choice for me as long as it does not have raisins in it. I hate raisins.

One of the reasons why I LOVE Naturebox’s dried fruit options!(No raisins!)

I loved this mixture of cranberries and apples. It is delicious and sweet. Soft to chew but not chewy. Rating 8/10

 

My add-on item this month was:  Mocha Almond Bar for $1.00

 

Normally, I’m not crazy about protein or “granola” type bars. I find that they usually have coconut or raisins in them or taste gritty. I have to same I was extremely surprised by this one! Definitely will be on my pantry list! Loaded with nuts with just the right amount of rich chocolate. And apparently there is even dried apricots in it! (yeah, I just discovered that. I probably would not have tried it had I known as I do not like fruit and chocolate together.)

Really enjoyed this sweet and satisfying snack! Rating 7/10

 

Alright, are you waiting for one of the “I’m not going to like it” choices?

First I chose: Blueberry Almond Bites

 

 

I only like blueberries if they are fresh. I do not like them in shakes, muffins or any other form. So, I knew for a fact that I would not like this snack and would be handing them over to my SIL, whom I knew would like them.

I opened the bag and the smell of blueberries made me a bit afraid to try them. I cringed. Picked one up and popped it in my mouth.

 I was completely WRONG!

They are actually quite enjoyable! A bit like eating a healthy “rice cake” only way better! Sweet, crunchy, light and definitely tasty! The almonds definitely added to their flavor!

They probably won’t stay in my pantry but, I still rate them a 7/10 !

 

My next choice that I thought for sure I would not like was: BBQ Kettle Kernels

 

(currently not available on their website)

I was also pleasantly surprised with this snack. I thought they would be too hard to chew and taste too much like corn. They are sweet and have a wonderful BBQ seasoning. I am disappointed to see them unavailable as this is one snack I would like to keep in my pantry selections. Rating of 7/10

 

Last but, certainly not least: Asiago & Cheddar Cheese Crisps

 

Okay, so, you know when you’re making a grilled cheese sandwich and sometimes the cheese melts out onto the frying pan and crisps up? I don’t know about you, but, I eat it and love it….well, this snack…tastes exactly like that!! That is truly the best way for me to describe the taste. It is crispy and cheesy deliciousness. It will definitely be staying in my pantry. Rating 9/10

I hope you have enjoyed this review.

**** If you would like to try out Naturebox use code share10off and you will receive $10 off your first box! ****

Please let them know that I sent you to them, would greatly appreciate it!

You can find Naturebox on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/NatureBox

And on twitter here: https://twitter.com/naturebox

Something else you need to know: If you do NOT like one of the snacks in your box, you simply contact their Snack Concierge at support@naturebox.xom and they will REPLACE it in your next box! How #awesome is that!!

I have to say that Naturebox has been quick to answer my questions and concerns and I really appreciate that from a company. Not only do they offer quality products but quality customer care!

Time for a #snackselfie

#snackselfie time!                                                   Thanks so much fore reading my review!

 

~Heather xoxoxoxo

 

*Please note I was not compensated to provide these reviews.

Product Review : NatureBox

As you all know, I am always on the search for healthy snacks, or at least “healthier” snack choices than the chips and chocolate that I seem to gravitate towards.

Back in November my health issues returned and I fell into one of those massive potholes on my #100LBWeightLossJourney . I talk about those potholes(setbacks) in a blog post, which can be found…………………

—>>>Here<<<—- Join The Chaos (Challenge Group – Are You Ready For A Change?) – Part One

Apparently, this time, my pot hole is filled with tar as I have not been able to climb back out.

But, not without hope and determination. I am beginning to claw my way back out, and in doing so I am expanding, once again, on my snack options. Trying to keep things as clean and healthy as possible.

I cannot remember how I first came to discover NatureBox. Most likely it was through a Facebook ad or someone’s blog. I saw the “free trial” and was interested. I briefly checked them out, saw that as a Canadian it would cost me $7.95 for shipping for my trial box and at the time did not have the funds, so I dismissed it. And that was that.

A few weeks later I ran into Naturebox again online. This time having a bit of money in the bank, I decided to give it a try. I was nervous. I had no idea what I would be getting in my sample box. Being a very fussy eater and running as far away from healthy snacks as possible, I thought for sure when I received it I would not like anything in it.

But, I’ll let you in on a little secret, I was pleasantly surprised!

I had surgery back on February 10th, 2015 and am still recouping from it. So, finding healthier snacks while I am inactive is very important.

I already have one snack that I LOVE and did a product review on – Way Better Snacks tortillas.

If you missed that review, you can check it out ——>>>>> HERE <<<<<–—–

They are absolutely scrumptious! And a much better choice for you than chips!!

My other favorite snack is my Shakeology shake along with an apple or mandarin. It took me a long time to get to the point that I could say Shakeology is one of my favorite snacks, but it is. Gives me energy and fills me up.

If you want to learn more about Shakeology and how it has helped me, please read this blog post:

#21DayFix Day#19 #100LBWeightLossJourney – Update

Now, back to the current review…. Naturebox.

I received my sample Naturebox in the mail on February 20th. It took only 9 days to get to me and that was during some major snowstorms!

Inside of your sample box you get 1 Full size serving and 4 single serving snacks.

The box is simple but the color choices for their product is great. They work well together and are pleasing to the eye.

So, here is what I received in my box:

**Please note that I only took  one piece out of each bag to show what each snack looked like.

Of course I opened the biggest bag first. Peanut Butter Nom Noms. Definitely not my favorite snack. I probably won’t order these again, but, you never know, I could change my mind. A slight taste of peanut butter and cinnamon. One “cookie” definitely would solve your craving. Soft and chewy. They smell better than they taste, for me. However, my sister in law tried one and though they were divine!  So, just keep in mind that just because someone else doesn’t like it, does not mean you will will not like it as well. We all have different taste buds! 🙂

Next I tried what I thought would be my favorite. Jalapeno Cashews. And they most definitely were! I love jalapeno flavoring and I love cashews, so the combination made sense to me. Just a fair warning, they have got a bit of a kick to them! These will most likely be a constant order in each box for me. Yes, I loved them that much.

Next I tried what I thought would be my 2nd least favorite, Sea Salt Sun-Crunch. While I was right about them not being a favorite, I was again pleasingly surprised. I did end up eating the whole package and did enjoy them. If you like sesame seeds I bet you’ll like this snack very much.

Then I decide to try the Garden Tomato Crunchies. I had a feeling I would probably like this one. And of course I did! These are absolutely delicious. Crunchy and flavorful. Can’t wait to order these again.

And last but not least. The Cranberry Medley. All I can say is WOW! So sweet and delicious. By far my favorite dried berry blend I have EVER had. I will be ordering this snack again in the future for sure!

This box was a 3/5 for what I will most definitely order again. Even though there were 2 products that did not fit my taste buds, they may fit yours! And, i will not say I hated them, because I did not. They just are not something I could find myself enjoying as a “go to” snack.

They have many different snacks options for you to try savory, sweet, crunchy, chewy, etc. Over 80 choices! And some of them even include chocolate! *gasp!*

Everything from dried fruit, nuts, bars, to pretzels, “cookies” and granola.

To order a trial/sample box please click —–>>>>> HERE <<<<<—–

A shipping fee of $2.00 applies to shipments going outside of the contiguous USA and $7.95 to shipments going to Canada. Otherwise shipping is FREE in the USA.

One thing I like about their site is that you can search for snacks specifically to you.

You can search for vegan, Non-GMO, low fat, etc As well as by snack type: dried fruit, nuts, granola, etc.

Something that is great about Naturebox is that you can cancel anytime AND you customize what snacks you want to receive each month. You do NOT have to get the same thing every time, though you must change/update your pantry yourself prior to your shipping date.

Now, I have only reviewed a handful of the available snacks that they provide. I am committed to you and providing you with as much info as I can about products that I enjoy.

So, each month I am making the decision to order 2 products that I know that I will like ( 1 that I have already tried and 1 that I have not), 1 product that I am unsure if I will like it or not and 2 that I am already convinced that I will not like. You might wonder why I would want to waste money by ordering things that I may end up not eating/enjoying.

My answer is simple. If I continue through life only doing what i already know, nothing will change. If I only eat the things I know I like, I’ll never develop the ability to like new foods. plus, I have a sister in law who likes healthy food and snacks, and I know if I don’t like she probably will, so there will be no waste! 🙂 LOL

So, stay tuned for future reviews of Naturebox each month!

If you decide to sign up and try the sample box, please let me know what you thought and if you are going to continue ordering!

~Heather xoxoxoxox