- What is in the Snack Jar
- Fruit
- Almonds
- Cheese Sticks
Her post got me thinking. Isn't it so much easier to have an answer already? I mean, the kids are going to ask!
A while ago, I bought 18 pounds (if I remember the weight correctly) of California Raw Almonds at about $4 per pound. I am totally wishing I bought more! At the time, 18 pounds seemed like a lot to me. But, we use them in power bars, in granola, in several other baking recipes and...
almonds are the answer to the ever-present snack question.
It is so easy to let the children get their own snack. And, cleaning up after almonds is a cinch... well, unless they get to giggling while chewing them and you have the almond drool of a two year old to deal with...For the past six weeks (or so) my children have been very pleased with a small bowl of almonds every afternoon. Talk about a simple snack time! I've been letting the little girls count out 17, 19, 21 (any such number) into little bowls for the counting practise. When they ask, I let them add in some organic raisins, sesame sticks or some other little something. But usually, they are content with a handful of almonds.
So far, this has been the perfect snack to hold them over until suppertime. Perfect in protein, fat and carbohydrates. Perfect for sustaining energy and nourishing growing bodies.
Almonds are so nutritiously packed -- they are a one of a kind snack for kids and adults alike. Just a handful of almonds contains a healthy dose of protein, fiber, Vitamin E, Calcium, Riboflavin, Niacin, Potassium, Zinc, Folate, Manganese and Magnesium, Copper and Phosphorus. They also contain a wide spectrum of phytochemicals which protect against heart disease and cancer.
If kids are going to snack, it makes sense to make their snack nourishing. As long as I can get almonds at a good price, they are the answer to the snack question in our house.
Off to help Witzy get the almonds ready... today we eat them in the car on the way to Ballet. Did I mention how great of a car snack almonds are?
Photocredit: Maria Li
5 comments:
I love almonds! I have read that they are great for those who have blood sugar issues, as they are supposed to help stabilize blood sugar levels, and it is easy to keep a ziploc bag in your purse ready for a time when you are out and start feeling weak and shaky.
I am curious whether you are eating them raw . . . or soaked and dehydrated?? Once I read about soaking nuts, it seemed to turn almonds into a more complicated snack food!
Hi Elizabeth,
I used to soak my almonds (as in Nourishing Traditions), but it got complicated as our family grew. Honestly, I think that doing everything in NT might be the ideal but often we have to just do our best... which in our family means trying to soak all of our grains, but just eating nuts raw.
However, it is not very difficult to soak and roast nuts at home... I guess it is just one more thing going on in the kitchen.
My priorities are whole foods the way God created them; lots of vegetables, fruit and other raw foods with enzymes intact; high-quality meat and dairy. Then comes soaked grains, etc... and soaked nuts don't really make the list (they fell off somewhere after the third baby).
In talking with moms who are trying to raise healthy families, it is easy to get burned out when we try to DO IT ALL! There is always something more we can do in the kitchen. But, making priorities and being okay with 95% is the key to sticking with it... in my humble opinion.
This comment is getting long... maybe it is the start of a new post!
Good to hear from you again... How are those Shape Ups now that you've had them for a few months?
Love and peace, ae
almonds are the snack of choice around here too! i wonder if we bought from the same farm??? briden wilson, or something like that?
i picked up a dehydrator at the thrift store and use it primarily to make crispy nuts. i just soak my almonds overnight and then throw them in. they're ready by the end of the day.
Hi, new reader here. You mentioned getting almonds at a good price. Do you not buy organic then? I think organic nuts are incredibly expensive to purchase, and yet I hear that conventional nuts are heavily sprayed. It's a quandry for me, so I don't buy them often. I love your blog!
I don't think my kiddos would eat just almonds for a snack at this point, BUT, they will eat nuts if I make a little trail mix by adding raisins or cranberries and a few chocolate chips. Since you've put me on the chocolate covered dried cherries, I think I'm going to make a trail mix of nuts, dried cherries and a few chocolate chips. YUM!
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