DID YOU KNOW that walnuts are one of the healthiest and most nutritious food choices? They are loaded with healthy fats, protein, fiber, and a variety of essential nutrients. As a bonus, they are a tasty way to potentially improve your healthy!!!
Walnuts have been said to have anti-inflammatory potentials! An anti-inflammatory is something that reduces swelling, like Ibuprofen, Aspirin, etc. One trial suggested that walnuts may lower inflammation after your meal! Another trial suggests that walnuts have unique satiating properties! (Satiation: The condition of being full or beyond satisfaction.) While the study showed too much inconsistency to say for certain, I would suggest that eating a handful of walnuts will make you feel full due to the oil content! Food for thought? How about a penny for your thoughts? Let me know what you think! One thing we know for sure though, is that walnuts are in fact one of the healthiest and most nutritious food choices. That being said, here are 5 ways to add walnuts into your daily routine!
1. Add some to your morning bowl of Oatmeal for an added crunch!
Bring 1 c. water to a boil in a small saucepan and add 3/4 c. rolled oats, 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt! Reduce it to a steady simmer and cook, stirring occasionally until oats are tender. (About 5 minutes.) Stir in 1/4 c. blueberries, 1/2 banana (sliced), and 3 Tbs walnuts (chopped). Drizzle 1 Tbs maple syrup and enjoy!
2. DIY Trailmix for a fast easy "on the go" snack!
Heat a pan on medium-high heat and add 3/4 c unsweetened coconut flakes. MIX CONSTANTLY. Do not over toast the coconut because it burns easily. Once they are toasted and fragrant, set them aside on a dish to cool completely. Meanwhile, combine 1 c. walnuts, 3/4 c. dried cherries, 3/4 c. pumpkin seeds, 3/4 c. banana chips, 1/4 c. sea salt, and (optional) 1/2 tsp. cinnamon in a large bowl. Add the cooled coconut flakes and store it in a mason jar! Measure out 1/2 c. during snack time and enjoy!
3. Replace croutons in your salad with Walnuts instead!
In a small bowl combine 1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil, 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard, and 2 tsp. honey. Whisk until completely blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside and in a large bowl combine 8 c. chopped lettuce, 1 medium apple (cored and thinly sliced), 1/4 c. thinly sliced red onion, and 3/4 c. halved & toasted walnuts. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to combine. Sprinkle with 1/3 c. crumbled feta and serve immediately.
4. Any dessert recipe!
Here is my simple banana bread recipe that you can easily add 1 c. of walnuts to for added crunch and flavor. You can also add walnuts to a chocolaty brownie recipe! MMMMmmm...
5. On their own as a simple snack!
One thing to keep in mind, too much of anything can be a bad thing. When eating any food group, always consider your portion sizes. For healthy fats of any kind, (avocados, nuts, cheese, etc.) approximately 1/3 cup is an appropriate snack size.
There you have it! ENJOY! Would you like me to share more things like this? Let me know what you thought about this article and if it was helpful to you! Feel free to reach out to me HERE at any time to share your thoughts on any of my articles! Thanks for reading friends! Let's chat soon!
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