From a Dietitian’s Kitchen: Sam’s Club

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We all know Sprouts and Whole Foods have beautiful healthy foods.  The good news is you don’t have to shop at a health food store to find tasty additions to a healthy diet.  Here are four of my favorite items sold at Sam’s Club for competitive prices.

1. Spring mix, spinach or baby kale are fantastic as a salad, sauteed, or blended in a smoothie.  To keep them from wilting so quickly line the tub with paper towels.  The paper towel barrier between the leaves and the plastic will significantly extend their life!

2. Almonds are a great source of healthy fats and fiber.  For those limiting sugar these cocoa almonds are a sweet treat for only 5 grams of sugar.
3. Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a seed that can be cooked like rice.  This naturally gluten free food is a good source of protein, fiber and iron.

4. Sugar snap peas are a great snack to eat right out of the bag.  They are a good source of Vitamins A and C and Iron.  Give them a try when you need a change from baby carrots.

MK

Nuts for Nuts

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Ever wonder what is so great about nuts? As part of a heart healthy diet, some nuts low in saturated fat have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease. Tree nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine-nuts, pistachios, and walnuts all provide a healthy dose of mono- and polyunsaturated fats, and clock in under 4 grams of saturated fat per 50 gram serving.  These nuts are plant-based proteins that contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

The USDA approves the ‘health claim’ that eating 1.5 ounces/day of these nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce heart disease risk.  
So are some nuts better than others, nutritionally speaking? Each nut is a bit different, so lumping them into a single category isn’t exactly fair. Nuts provide anywhere from 160 – 200 calories per ounce, which indicates a different ratio of fat in the varieties. The important thing to remember is portion size. 1 ounce of macadamias is only 10-12 nuts, whereas 1 ounce of almonds is about 25 nuts.
Learn the facts and how to easily incorporate them in your diet.
Nut
Nuts/oz
Calories/oz
Nutrition Boon
Flavor
Common Eats
Cashews
18
157 calories
Copper, Magnesium
Soft crunch, sweet
Raw or roasted as snack, nut butter
Walnuts
14 halves
185 calories
Omega 3 Fatty acids (ALA), antioxidants
Mild, buttery, meaty texture
Salad topping, oil used in dressings
Pecans
19 halves
196 calories
Mono-unsaturated fat, antioxidants
Sweet, mellow, meaty texture
Seasoned snack, protein coating, or in desserts
Brazil Nuts
6
185 calories
selenium 100%DV, poly- & monounsat. fats
Creamy texture, slightly crunchy
Raw or roasted snack, confections
Macadamias
10-12
204 calories
Higher fat- mostly monounsaturated, manganese
Smooth, buttery, rich flavor
Raw or roasted, cookies or chocolate coating
Almonds
25
170 calories
Vit E, folate, calcium, magnesium
Crunchy, strong flavor
Nut butter, savory and sweet dishes, raw snack
Pistachios
49
160 calories
Antioxidants, low in fat
Sweet, slightly bitter, mild
Beautiful color for salads, grain dishes or protein coating, baklava
Pine Nuts
160
191 calories
Vitamin E, phosphorus,
Light, delicate, soft bite
Pesto, pastas, breads, sautes, salads
Hazelnuts
21
178 calories
Mono-unsat fat, Vitamin E, copper, manganese
Mild, crunchy
Pairs well with citrus, sweet, chocolate

Content inspiration and resource: Food & Nutrition Academy Magazine Jan/Feb 2013(R.Begun)