When you live with food restrictions it doesn’t take many times being caught away from home without something you can eat to learn you need to carry at least a snack.  There are gluten free “nutrition bars” available now, but I prefer to turn to Mother Nature for my snacks. One of my favorites is almonds.

Almonds are high in healthy monounsaturated fats. These are the same type of fats found in olive oil which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease. The oils in almonds can go rancid so storing them in the refrigerator or freezer is always a good idea.

Almonds are also a great source of vitamin E and a good source of magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, fiber and contain more calcium than any other nut. They are high in protein (about 18%) and contain basically no carbohydrates making them a good snack for people with blood sugar issues. I have used almonds for this purpose for years.

I buy nuts and seeds raw.  Roast your own almonds in a 160 – 170 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes. You don’t want to destroy those good oils, so not too high with the heat.

I repackage my almonds into single servings.   A serving of almonds is around 20-23 nuts.   A single serving of almonds in a mint tin, or a small plastic bag will fit comfortably in your pocket.

Visit the consumer website of the California Almond Board for more information and recipes using almonds.