Nut butters have gotten so popular over the past several years. Approximately 5 years ago all we saw in the store was peanut butter….but now there is almond, walnut, cashew, macadamia, hazelnut, and then numerous flavored ones. Before I go any further I want to remind you that peanuts are technically not a nut, it is a legume. So if you enjoy peanut butter you like the bean family—don’t say anymore you aren’t a fan of legumes! Okay back to nuts…
Nuts are extremely healthy for you. They are primarily an unsaturated fat that may aid in lowering ldl cholesterol. They are a great source of protein and fiber so start crunching. There are so many in a jar but have you ever had it freshly ground? If you haven’t you must try. But be warned, once you try it you may never go back to a jar. There are machines in certain grocery stores that you flip the switch and out comes ground nut butter. It makes me hungry just thinking about it!
I had reached a level of crazy last year for loving freshly ground nut butter so much. I was driving over an hour just for my weekly supply of nut butter and a hot yoga class. Ben realized how much I was loving it so he bought me my own nut butter machine. Now I buy nuts in bulk then I choose the type of nut I want for the meal, grind it, and enjoy in my own kitchen. I have saved so much money and time this past year while still enjoying the deliciousness!
You can use nut butter on so many things. Here are several of my favorites:
- Dip carrots into nut butter
- Spread in the middle of a date of a fig for a sweet sandwich
- Stir into a yogurt parfait
- Mix into oatmeal
- Smear onto apples
Store nuts in the freezer to keep nuts fresh for a longer period of time. They can go rancid and lose their health saving properties if not stored properly. In addition, stick to proportion. 1 ounce of nuts has 200 calories! Unsaturated fats are extremely important to eat but don’t over eat your proportion.
Tell me about your favorite nut butter meal below.