Almonds are rich in protein, fibre, vitamin E, calcium, copper, magnesium and riboflavin. They are also a source of iron, potassium, zinc and the B vitamins, niacin, thiamine and folate. A 30-gram serving has 13g of healthy unsaturated fats and 1g of saturated fat.
They contain healthyunsaturated fats, lower “bad” cholesterol and they are the only nut that is alkaline-forming in the body.
Try this quick post-yoga snack
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 10 dried apricots, chopped
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Preparation
- Place the almonds, raisins and cinnamon into a food processor. Mix for a couple of minutes until you get a thick paste. Smooth or crunchy – your choice.
- Add the chopped apricots to the mixture and pulse the mixture for 30 seconds. Add the coconut and pulse again for 10 seconds.
- Take out the mix in spoonfuls and roll into small balls between your palms.
- Scatter more coconut onto a tray and roll the balls on them until they are coated – you could also use sesame seeds for this.
Prep Portion-Controlled Ready-to-Eat Snacks
Whether your snack food of choice is potato chips, trail mix, pretzels or salted peanuts, treating yourself occasionally doesn’t have to sabotage your diet. But if sitting down with the family-size bag is typically the first step for your mindless snack attack, it’s time to do some preventative prep!
Immediately after your grocery haul, portion your go-to snacks into manageable portion-controlled bags so that you can easily grab one from the pantry and indulge guilt-free. Keep 1-ounce bags of almonds and 3-cup portions of air-popped popcorn in the pantry and stock your fridge with perfectly portioned energy balls or chia pudding in mason jars.
A healthy diet can help mitigate or buffer one from these types of effects as it sets the stage for a beneficial gut microbiome and less inflammation, both of which are tied to mood, anxiety, depression and even sleep.
We all know we probably can stand to drink more water, so if you’re constantly forgetting to refill your glass, keep your favorite water bottle, filter or water cooler on the counter. Seeing all of your water paraphernalia every time you walk into the kitchen will help remind you to drink that H2O!
When you keep sweets and treats peppered throughout the kitchen, you’ll end up stumbling upon them even when you’re trying to locate something healthy. Instead, keep the chips, cookies, candies and cakes packed away in a single drawer or cupboard so that you only need to see them when you’re specifically hunting for a treat.
Like any dream renovation, you don’t have to make all these changes at once. But bit by bit, these simple, mindful hacks have the power to build a healthier dining hub in your home.
Designate One Treat Drawer
When you keep sweets and treats peppered throughout the kitchen, you’ll end up stumbling upon them even when you’re trying to locate something healthy. Instead, keep the chips, cookies, candies and cakes packed away in a single drawer or cupboard so that you only need to see them when you’re specifically hunting for a treat. There’s a new reason to tell your family members to put away their dirty dishes! According to research, messy environments, like a cluttered kitchen, tend to initiate an out-of-control mindset which carries over into daily eating behaviors. When study participants were in a cluttered kitchen, they consumed almost three times more cookies than they did in a tidy space! Neat freaks, rejoice!
