Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut!

Today, October 22, 2010 is National Nut Day!

Nuts can have a variety of health benefits, including weight management, diabetes control and heart health.  Although nuts are high in fat, they are mostly unsaturated healthy fats.  The key to incorporating nuts into the diet is definitely moderation!  The Food and Drug Administration recommends consuming up to 1.5 ounces of nuts daily, but what does that look like?  In general, a "handful" of nuts is about 1 ounce.  If measuring tools are helpful, 1.5 ounces usually is equivalent to 1/3 cup of nuts.

Types of nuts to snack on:

• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Peanuts
• Cashews
• Macadamias
• Pistachios
• Pecans

All of these nuts are somewhere around 150-200 calories per ounce, but again have great heart healthy fats that will help you feel full!  Enjoy nuts by themselves or sprinkle them on salads, cereals, yogurts, etc.