Trade-Up Tuesday: Almonds
Welcome to Trade Up Tuesday. It’s my weekly feature where I tell you about a Trade Up I’ve made for better nutrition since I started working for NuVal. I also ask you to tell me about trade ups you’ve made (or plan to make) and everyone who comments is enrolled in a drawing for a prize giveaway. Cool, huh?
Today’s Trade Up is Almonds. Usually in this weekly feature I tell you about a product I traded in for a new product that I’m eating now. In this case, I didn’t really trade anything in. I just started eating almonds – sans guilt.
I credit my boss, Leslie, for getting me hooked on almonds.
Leslie is a super-healthy eater and it shows: she has incredible energy, awesome hair and beautiful skin. And I’m not just saying that because she is my boss. 
She does all the right things: she drinks her water, takes her vitamins, gets her exercise, you name it. And she is always munching on almonds. Now, almonds (or any nuts really) were something that I kept away from for the most part because I was always thinking in terms of Weight Watchers points, only. Almonds are not low in calories, nor are they low in fat. 23 almonds = 4 Weight Watchers points. Ouch. However, almonds are super-nutritious. They get an 81 on the NuVal scale. My husband and I have been snacking on roasted, unsalted almonds for about a year now. And the amazing thing is that I easily maintain my happy weight while including them in my diet. About halfway throughout the morning, I find myself incredibly hungry and a little handful of almonds does the trick.
So, hip hip hooray for almonds.
How about you? What have you traded up since learning about NuVal? I’d love to hear about your go-to foods when you are feeling like a hungry, hungry hippo. Leave a comment below. One lucky winner will receive my Almond Prize Pack.
- 2 containers of my favorite roasted, unsalted almonds
- A suprise goodie from the NuVal marketing closet (we have water bottles, shopping bags, magnetized shopping lists)
Just leave a comment by midnight tonight (11:59 pm EST to be exact) and you could win!
Posted by: Melissa 60 comments
Posted in: almonds, Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: almonds
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Definitely cereal–my former Captain Crunch obsession is now replaced by Shredded Wheat!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:17 am
cereal – i bought a box of shredded wheat to try!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:30 am
I’ve learned that making the switch from white pasta to wheat pasta can be tasty and healthy!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:14 am
I love almonds!! I’ve been trading up to a few almonds with a piece of fruit for my snack instead of Cheez-its! Yeah, I know anything was probably better than Cheez-its
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I’m loving white corn tortillas rocking out with a score of 91! I’ll broil a few to make my own chips for dipping in hummus or salsa….THAT’s got to be way better than tortilla chips?!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:26 am
My biggest trade up has been incorporating more veggies into my diet!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:28 am
I’m much more careful about the granolas I choose making sure sugar is low and nuts, fiber, and protein are high
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I switched from eating a yogurt, to eating some almonds during the day. Actually I switched mostly everything that I have ate, I am diabled and of course I was over weight but in the course of a year from switching food I have lost 70 lbs.. YEA !!!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I meant disabled. But by switching up all my foods and eating healthy and more fruits and veggies I have lost the weight thanks
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Hubby and I used to eat salted cashews…not anymore…almonds all the way baby….lol!!
Enjoy!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by MelisaNutrition: I love Almonds. And today I’m giving them away! http://tinyurl.com/ye7l2wl...
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I love almonds! I agree that they are a great mid-morning snack.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Almonds are my favorite nut. They are a great source of protein and a quick/healthy snack too. I just made cinnamon roasted almonds for the holidays-I will post the recipe tomorrow:)
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Oh, I will check that out Maria! My kids want to give Daddy almonds for Christmas (because he eats them all the time). We could make that together!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Looking at the NuVal scores for cereal was quite illuminating. It’s made me “trade up” my cereal. I’d definitely trade up for almonds, too.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:13 am
My go-to snack, where I am not sure if I am hungry or it is something else, are carrots. Often takes the need for snack action to come abound.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:13 am
I love almonds. I too just recently started eating them and they are a really good snack.
I liked the Mac and cheese trade-up. With whole wheat pasta!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:14 am
The NuVal cereal scores were a bit of a surprise.
I love almonds.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Sometimes I like a little mac ‘n cheese in my life, mainly on my ‘fun food fridays’. Last week I tried the WW Mac ‘n Cheese you wrote about instead of my usual (Annies or another Organic brand). Not exactly the healthies response here but sometmies you just need a treat!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I haven’t actually made any trade-ups, since we don’t have NuVal in our stores here in AZ. I just read about it online.
But I do love almonds. I buy the 100-calorie packs of Emerald nuts and keep them in my desk at work — the plain and cocoa roasted (which I’m sure would score a little lower on the NuVal scale than plain).
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Oh geesh. I love the Almond action, but they make me cough and hack and bother my co-workers till they roll their eyes in disgust. But I just wanted to comment anyways.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I’ve moved from multi-grain foods to whole-grain foods!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:37 am
My fruity pebbles have been replaced with Kashi Honey Sunshine! I even add it to my yogurt for added crunch
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I haven’t seen any score but sometimes when making decisions, I think back to what the scores might be–particularly for dairy and whole wheat foods.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Cheese and crackers and popcorn are my go to foods when I am feeling snacky and like a bottomless pit.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:58 am
For my snack I eat yogurt and an apple.
Haven’t encountered the scores in stores around here but I sooo wish we had this around here.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I love almonds! So sad that they’re high in calories, but otherwise a huge thumbs up! I eat almonds on my way home from work sometimes — less than an ounce usually — and they take awhile to chew and savor so it is yummy and gets me feeling like I’m having more than I really am. Great post!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Trading up my bars for dates with nut butter before workouts.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
working on trading the totino for the kashi pizza instead cuz i love margherita pizza
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I have switched to eating Kashi cereals….yum yum!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
gahh i love almonds!! i traded typical yogurt for greek yogurt. its much better :]
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
my trade up…regular bread to ezekial grain bread:cinnamon & raisin… my fav!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I try to grab some baby carrots as a trade off to Chips..and now i started to roast some almonds with a little olive oil and sprinkle some Chilly Powder and salt.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I have traded chips and crackers for healthier options like nuts, seeds and even raw veggies.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
From roasted to raw almonds…so much better.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
All natural peanut butter… I used to avoid nut butters like the plague due to the same issue you had with almonds… now I realize how perfect they are for maintaining any persons healthy weight (unless you’re allergic).
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I add blueberries and other fresh fruit to my oatmeal instead of sugar.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I have traded up using whole wheat flour in baking instead of the regular white flour.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
My favorite nut is almond . I have trade off home some bars before
with my friends at school – does that count? haha
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Definitely I’ve traded up in my cereal choices!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I too have found that almonds are a wonderful way to settle the mid-morning stomach grumbles!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
i’ve started having some dried fruit + nuts/nut butters instead of my usual overly-processed bar!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
For me, it’s salty snacks like chips. Now I go to granola bars instead.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Actually today in the grocery store I was looking at shredded wheat cereal and could not remember which one scored high on NuVal. I decided to look it up again before making a purchase though. Throughout the day I have been thinking more about nutrition when I choose a food to eat rather than weight watchers points like I used to. I am finding I am more satisfied and feel more energized!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I have traded my cereal! I went from Honey Bunches of Oats to Kashi!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
i’m all about the fruits and veggies!!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Definitely my breakfast! Upgrade from boring old cereal to a variety of more interesting bowls of oats.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
I think I’m going to start roasting turkey more often – at least more than once a year on Thanksgiving! I knew it was great for you, but I was surprise at how many more points skinless turkey had than boneless chicken breast.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I know do an evening “apple treat” with my husband which is basically just a sliced apple with a few walnuts instead of a sugary dessert! Maybe we’ll try some almonds soon to mix it up!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I have switched my cereals for better nutrition!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Yoplait light yogurt for Greek yogurt. A lot less sugar and a lot more protein!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Crackers!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
For sweets, I’ve traded up to Kashi’s Tasty Little Cookies instead of other less healthy brands.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Thanks so much for the opportunity! I changed to plain yogurt and then I add fruit or granola! It’s great because it’s a lot more natural.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I changed to wheat tortillas for my lunches!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I started adding pistachios to my salads! So yummy!!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I changed from white pasta to whole wheat pasta!
on Dec 9th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I traded up unhealthy salty snacks for almonds! Yum! I, too, had always stayed away from almonds and nuts because of their calories and fat!
on Dec 9th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I am munching on dry roasted unsalted almonds right now! I am actually quite addicted to these babies. I recently had to buy the pre-portioned kind because I really can go to town on those
on Apr 1st, 2011 at 8:12 am
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