There are so many different varieties of nuts and so many different ways to use them. They’re great for snacking, can be added to salads for that extra crunch, can be used in cooking and baking, and even made into a variety of nut milks and nut butters.

I’m not a big fan of walnuts or Brazil nuts, but I like all of the other popular types! Once in a while, I’ll buy a large container of mixed nuts (peanuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, etc.), so I can have a variety on hand for snacking. But, my usual go-to nuts are almonds and cashews. They make an excellent snack for me, especially in the late afternoon when I get a little hungry and need some added energy!

If you like nuts, which ones do you like best and buy most often? Let me know in the comment section!

Let’s take a look at some of the more popular types of nuts as shared by finedininglovers.com:

Walnuts – a great source of healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals, they’re also rich in antioxidants. They add extra crunch to sweet and savory dishes.
Hazelnuts – Very popular in baking and confectionery. Loaded with nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds and healthy fats.
Cashews – Commonly eaten on their own as snacks, used in recipes, or processed into cashew milk, cheese, and butter.
Macadamia – Highly nutritious chickpea-sized nuts known for their sweet buttery flavor and creamy texture.
Pistachios – Packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber and protective antioxidants. Often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and salted.
Peanuts – Rich in healthy unsaturated fats and fiber. A popular ingredient in many dishes and among different cultures around the world. Peanut sauces, peanut butter, granola and trail mix are among some of the more common uses.
Almonds – Often eaten roasted or raw. Produce both oil and milk and commonly used in confectionery and baking. High-fat, but mostly in the form of monounsaturated fat.

Benefits and Uses

Nuts are a nutritious food, they contain many of the vitamins and minerals the body needs. They’re one of the main sources of ALA omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts are largely composed of fats, however, the fats in nuts are almost entirely unsaturated, which means they leave you feeling more satisfied after eating. Nuts are a good source of Vitamin E, as well as folic acid, magnesium, potassium and calcium.

If you’re thinking about adding more nuts into your diet, here are some ways to do it from webmd.com:

– Chopped walnuts make an excellent addition to a yogurt parfait.
– Grind your own almonds into almond butter, a popular alternative to peanut butter.
– Make your own banana nut bread.
– Sprinkle pecans over a salad.
– Add cashew nuts when you’re making vegetable stir fry.
– Add almonds to a protein shake with a banana and some milk.
– Try chopped almonds with feta cheese and olives in a Mediterranean style salad.
– Grind walnuts with herbs into a paste to garnish grilled chicken.

For NCP Panel Members

If you buy packaged nuts that have a UPC barcode, be sure to scan them! If you buy nuts that are loose and sold by the pound, in bulk, etc., (which typically don’t have a barcode), please refer to the Non-Barcoded Items list in the NCPMobile app (or the Barcode Reference Booklet if you use NCP’s handheld scanner) to report those purchases using the Candy/Nuts/Seeds category.

Regards,

Taylor

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