FitSugar

5 Things: Almond Butter

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:30:00 PDT

Almond Butter is one of my favorite treats. A spoonful of it with some dark chocolate chips and dried cranberries is absolutely divine and, not to mention, satisfying.

1 tbsp of almond butter contains 95 calories, 8g of healthy fat (this can help to lower LDL cholesterol), no cholesterol, 2g of fiber, and 2.5g of protein.
2 tbsp of almond butter contains 86 mg of calcium. Your RDI of calcium is 1,000 mg.
Almond butter is a good source or magnesium, Vitamin E, and potassium. It's also a great source of selenium, which has been shown to be effective in preventing cancer.
People who have a peanut allergy can eat almond butter (only if it's processed in a plant that doesn't process peanut products).
To prevent almond butter from going rancid, it should be stored in a cool dry place until it's opened, and then stored in the fridge after that.

Source

Nut Breakdown

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:15:00 PST

One of the easiest foods to snack on (in my opinion) is nuts - a great Super Bowl munchable. Dieters tend to shy away from them because of their high fat content - but they have the the unsaturated heart-healthy fat that may help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Just want to remind you that even though they are loaded with "good" fat, you still should limit yourself to a handful.

Check out how these crows eat their nuts...

Okay, here's the Nut Break Down for a 1 oz serving of each nut (dry-roasted, no salt added), including calories, total fat, saturated fat (bad fat), and protein.

Almond (20-24 nuts): 161 cals, 14g fat, 1g sat fat, 6g protein
Brazil Nut (6-8 nuts): 183 cals, 19g fat, 4g sat fat, 4g protein
Cashew (16-18 nuts): 160 cals, 13g fat, 3g sat fat, 4g protein
Grape Nuts: (just kidding)

Want to see the rest? Then

read more Hazelnut (18-20 nuts): 180 cals, 17g fat, 1g sat fat, 4g protein Macadamia (10-12 nuts): 201 cals, 21g fat, 3g sat fat, 2g protein Peanut (28 nuts): 166 cals, 14g fat, 2g sat fat, 7g protein Pecan (18-20 halves): 198 cals, 21g fat, 2g sat fat, 3g protein Pine nut (150-157 nuts): 188 cals, 19g fat, 1g sat fat, 4g protein Pistachio (45-47 nuts): 159 cals, 13g fat, 2g sat fat, 6g protein Walnut (14 halves): 183 cals, 18g fat, 2g sat fat, 4g protein So go ahead and enjoy a handful of nuts. It's a great source of protein and healthy fats.

A Reader Recipe: Homemade Spiced Almond Butter

Fit Community — Mon, 02 May 2011 02:21:17 PDT

Check out this recipe for homemade spiced almond butter from reader Sprint2theTable; she posted it in our Healthy Recipe community group.

See how to make this almond butter for yourself after the break.

Kate Middleton Heads to Liverpool For Her Latest Solo Stop

Allie Merriam — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:47:35 PST

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, embarked on her second-ever solo official visit this morning. Kate wore a brown coat from Hobbs in English city of Liverpool to stop by The Brink, an alcohol-free bar that provides assistance for those suffering from substance abuse. The bartenders even created a smoothie for her called "The Duchess" that includes bananas, almonds, and honey. The organization's vocal group, the Raucous Caucus Recovery Chorus, sang for Kate as well.

Later today, Kate's scheduled to continue her tour of the area with stops by Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. Last week, Kate Middleton went to the National Portrait Gallery, a museum of which she is a patron, to see their new Lucian Freud exhibit. She's making appearances alone while her husband, Prince William, serves with the Royal Air Force in the Falklands. It's their first Valentine's Day as husband and wife, but Kate and William are choosing to spend the holiday serving their country.

A Reader Recipe: Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Fit Community — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:27:50 PST

If you've got a cookie craving, you're in luck: FitSugar readers Pure2raw recently shared this gluten-free chocolate chip cookie cake with us in our Healthy Recipe group.

Everyone loves cookie cake, right? We have a chocolate chip cookie cake that is not only gluten-free but egg- and dairy-free, too. It is full of flavor with a great soft, cakelike texture. Plus the three-ingredient coconut frosting is too good not to try.

Get the recipe after the break!

Polka-Dot Nails Are Adorably Imperfect at Kate Spade

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:50:07 PST

Who says nail art has to be completely uniform to be winsome? At the Kate Spade show, models showed off these pretty black and cream polka-dot nails with asymmetrical and multisized dots. Along with the models' almond-shaped nails, the quirky dots gave the manicure a whimsical feel that was fresh and simple, not to mention easy to copy at home. So next time you're in the mood to change your spots, take a page from Ms. Spade's book and don't worry about "perfect"-looking polkas.

3 Ways Snacks Can Help You Lose Weight

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:09:19 PST

You might think snack time is just for preschoolers, but everyone can benefit from eating a few bites between meals. Aside from filling nutritional holes in your diet, snacking can also help you on your road to weight loss. If the numbers on the scale are on your mind, here are three ways snacking can help you lose weight.

Snacks Keep Blood Sugar Levels Steady
If you've ever gone too long between meals and have gotten a headache, the shakes, and a loss of concentration, then you've felt firsthand what it's like to have low blood sugar. Snacking between meals keeps blood sugar levels steady, which can help prevent you from grabbing the first (unhealthy) thing you can get your hands on and overindulging.

Fiber Fills You Up
Choosing snacks that are full of water and belly-filling fiber will help keep you full longer, so you actually eat less in the long run. Fruits, veggies, and whole-grain breads are great options, and if you need more ideas, here are 10 high-fiber snacks under 150 calories.

No More Overeating
You eat lunch around noon and dinner isn't until 6 p.m. or later. No wonder you hit the dinner table feeling so ravenous that you stuff yourself silly. Now if you enjoyed a pear with some almonds around 3 p.m., you'd avoid that famished feeling and have the patience to prepare a healthy, sensibly sized meal. It works the other way, too. If you're eating a meal and you know you'll be enjoying a snack in two hours or so, you won't feel the need to overeat at mealtime.

A Reader Recipe: Chunky Cherry-Chocolate Granola Bites

Fit Community — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:28:09 PST

FitSugar reader JuicyNoelle came up with this special cookie for Valentine's Day; she posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

Tied with a festive pink ribbon and a little love, I’m hoping these cookies will be perfect for Valentine's Day. The whole-grain oats, nuts, and cherries in these cookies add heartiness, while the melted dark-chocolate chunks deliver bursts of richness. The chia seeds pack a nutty punch, and they are rich in fiber and omega-3s, too - perfect for supporting vibrant hair and skin during these cold weeks of February.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

Healthy Recipe: Almond Lemon Macaroons

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:07:13 PDT

Not everyone enjoys a coconut almond macaroon, even though it is one of our favorite traditional Passover cookies. And the coconut can really push the saturated fat content of this sweet treat quite high, but there are other options. Try this almond lemon macaroon for a crunchier alternative. Made with ground almonds, these cookies are loaded with protein and contain heart-healthy fats.

Ready to check out this delicious recipe?

A Little Love Goes a Long Way: Basic French Macarons

Sara Yoo — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:30 PST

Perhaps it's the rainbow of cheerful hues, the adorable two-bite size, or - most likely - the perfect crisp-chewy texture, but I just can't get enough of French macarons. Even when I'm stuffed to the gills, I can always make room for these tiny, delicate pastries.

True, macarons can be temperamental (meringue is the capricious culprit), but they do respond wonderfully to patience, encouragement, and a loving touch. So before you dismiss the idea of making these little lovelies at home, we've found a basic recipe that breaks down the uncooperative veneer of the elusive macaron.

Although part of the same happy pastry family, the French macaron should not be confused with the coconut macaroon. They are similar in concept, but differ greatly in execution: while both entail adding dry ingredients to a delicate egg white meringue, the one "o" macaron uses finely ground almonds as its base and requires much more gentle handling.

Much like a first date, there's a good chance that your first batch could end awkwardly. As in love, you simply pick yourself up and try again. Once you begin to understand the macaron's nature - its singular texture, its response to your oven, its personality in your climate - suddenly it's like the realization that you both enjoy the same rom-com movies and takeout Chinese: everything just works.

Ready for the challenge? Read on for the recipe.