What are the true nutrition facts behind your favorite snacks? From the calorie counts in oatmeal raisin cookies to the surprising health risks of pine nut oil, understanding sugar types and chip ingredients is vital for a balanced diet.
Monkey nuts is a term sometimes used to describe peanuts, which are a high-fat, calorie-dense snack. Although peanuts are high in calories, they can be a good snack choice because peanuts are small, portable and do not require refrigeration.
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Since 2005, researchers from Harvard University have shown that men, both healthy and those who have suffered a heart attack, reduced their cardiovascular risk by eating nuts regularly. By replacing less healthy snacks with nuts rich in mono- and polyunsaturated fats and fiber lowers cholesterol.
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Sunflower seeds are native to North America, and since the Native Americans discovered that sunflower seeds make a nutritious and portable food, they have been a popular snack.
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Butternut squash has many health-promoting features and a long storage life. It is an excellent source of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. Its seeds are rich in protein, healthy fats and zinc, making a satisfying snack. Butternut squash is a nutrient-dense food, providing much nutrition in few calories.
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Cashew nuts, which grow in tropical and subtropical regions, have a rich, buttery taste. The cashews grow inside small, pumpkin-shaped fruits called cashew apples. Cashews are also a good source for several different nutrients, and you can include them as part of a healthy diet.
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Candy bars are never considered a health food. They are laden with fat, sugar and calories. But if you're craving something sweet, and hard candy just won't do, choose the lesser of several evils and go for the relatively low-calorie and nutrient-rich treats.
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Power Crunch is a high-protein bar made by BioNutritional Research Group. Unlike other nutrition bars, which are often chewy, the Power Crunch is a creme-filled wafer cookie that is not only high in protein, it is also low in carbohydrates.
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A reducing sugar is a chemical term for a sugar that acts as a reducing agent and can donate electrons to another molecule. Specifically, a reducing sugar is a type of carbohydrate or natural sugar that contains a free aldehyde or ketone group.
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Nuts are a good source of protein, healthy fats and fiber. The dietary guidelines for Americans recommend you vary your sources of protein to include more nuts to increase your intake of these nutrients. Marcona Almonds, sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Almonds,"
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To some, red velvet cake may pose a bit of a mystery as this rich, chocolate-flavored cake features a red hue that may range from bright to dark. Red food coloring gives this cake its color in modern times; however, it was originally made with beets and cocoa.
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Many people claim they are addicted to chocolate and need their daily fix. Those with a guilty conscience say that chocolate is a healthy treat. However, white chocolate does not have the same ingredients nor does it confer the same health benefits as other types of chocolate.
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It would be great to find out that chocolate chips are healthy. These semi-sweet chocolate morsels are often used in baking, specifically chocolate chip cookies. The cookie itself may not be as healthy as the chocolate, especially the dark chocolate called semi-sweet.
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Although problematic when consumed in excessive amounts, unrefined raw sugar is a better alternative to white sugar, since it retains minerals. USDA guidelines suggest limiting added sugars in any form so as not to displace nutrient-dense foods.
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Fun size candy bars, popular at Halloween, are also available year-round. If you are counting calories, these mini-size candy bars make a smart, portion-controlled indulgence.
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A Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie, available both in both single and family packs, features two soft and chewy oatmeal cookies with a layer of sweet, white cream in between.
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Sorbet is a frozen confection similar to ice cream, but made without any dairy products. Instead, the dessert is made with sweet syrup made of sugar and water and flavored with fruit juice or puree. The same method used to make ice cream is used to make sorbet.
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As a member of the ConAgra Foods company, David Seeds has been roasting and selling sunflower seeds since 1926. The company produces multiple flavors of seeds including nacho cheese, barbecue, jalapeno, ranch, dill pickle and chili lime.
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Nicotine gum was created to help smokers drop the habit once and for all. Available as an over-the-counter medication at your local pharmacist, nicotine gum comes in a variety of flavors. Despite the benefits that these gums offer, some worry about their nutritional contents.
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Snacking is an important part of your meal plan. It helps you control hunger and can help you meet your nutrient needs. Vegetables make a healthy snack choice because they are low in calories and high in fiber.
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With a heavier texture than traditional potato chips, baked Lay's Original Potato Crisps have no trans fat, gluten, casein, lactose, MSG, porcine or soy. These ingredients are common allergens. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Casein is a protein found in milk. Lactose is a sugar found in milk.
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