It’s midsummer, which means I may or may not have said shouted this phrase at my kids once or twice (a day) recently.
It’s midsummer, which also means that it’s picnic and potluck season.
Lucky for you, today I have a recipe roundup of salads that will make a fantastic healthy addition to your next smorgasbord-focused event. And each of these salads has a star ingredient in common: almonds.
- Fancy a recipe that even salad-averse kids will want to eat? (Or at least pick the toppings off of?) Try the Mandarin Almond Salad from Sweet Treats & More.
- Looking for a salad that puts a veggie other than lettuce front and center? The Healthy Foodie’s Broccoli, Apple & Almond Salad offers a tasty option.
- Feeling a bit highbrow/lowbrow? The Crunchy Asian Slaw from My Homemade Life is not only a crowd-pleasing recipe but one of the funniest food posts you’ll read. (Though when I make this slaw, I sub olive oil for vegetable oil. And I do feel a bit awkward buying ramen at 40 years old.)
But why almonds?
They are the tree-nut with the highest density of protein, Vitamin E, B vitamins, and calcium, and they are also high in fiber. Almonds contain concentrated monounsaturated (good) fats that can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Aside from being a nutritional powerhouse, almonds have other positive benefits for the hair, skin, and immune system. All this in a delicious little nut!
And because we live in Texas, where the surface-of-the-sun hot summers makes it challenging choose healthy portable snacks without schlepping along a cooler, almonds always make the cut. When my kids get whiny and wingey in the afternoons, I often say shout: “Are you hungry? Do you need protein? Go eat some nuts!”
I admit that my very favorite way to enjoy almonds is the dark chocolate-covered variety. I mean, really…where else can you find such an anti-oxidant rich protein punch? Nowhere! These little superfoods are just the treat I need on long afternoons.
Happy Summer. Hope the ones you love aren’t driving you nuts.
I was invited to write a post about almonds by the good folks at nuts.com. All opinions are my own.
OnBalance 