Almons vs. an Apple

bago08
bago08 Posts: 360 Member
I typically have an apple as a mid afternoon snack at work. The other day I was stuck downtown and didnt have access to a store that sold apples so I bought a sleeve of almonds at a newsstand. I was a bit concerned because they were higher in calories than the apple but the next day I weighed myself to see the damage and I had actually went down a bit from the day before. Does anyone else have an opinion on fruit vs. nuts for a snack?

Replies

  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    Nuts have a relatively high fat content so you can easily ramp up your calories without feeling satiated.

    Generally, fruit is relatively low in calories... it's a bit more 'calorie friendly' if you're on a tight budget for calories.
  • crystalewhite
    crystalewhite Posts: 422 Member
    I actually prefer to mix my carbs and fats, it seems to keep me full longer. I love apples with a little almond butter and cheese and some kind of cracker.
  • bago08
    bago08 Posts: 360 Member
    I actually prefer to mix my carbs and fats, it seems to keep me full longer. I love apples with a little almond butter and cheese and some kind of cracker.
    Almond butter? Not familiar with that but it sounds good.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Yes.

    I would have an apple with a few almonds, getting all my macros in one shot. That tube should last you a few days.

    No.

    A half-pound difference overnight cannot be blamed/credited to the almonds.
  • bago08
    bago08 Posts: 360 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    Yes.

    I would have an apple with a few almonds, getting all my macros in one shot. That tube should last you a few days.

    No.

    A half-pound difference overnight cannot be blamed/credited to the almonds.
    I kind of thought that too.. I guess I was wondering if the body burned nuts differently than say fruits. I am pretty patterned with my diet especially during the week which is why I was surprised by going down instead of going up despite having had additional calories.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    bago08 wrote: »
    I typically have an apple as a mid afternoon snack at work. The other day I was stuck downtown and didnt have access to a store that sold apples so I bought a sleeve of almonds at a newsstand. I was a bit concerned because they were higher in calories than the apple but the next day I weighed myself to see the damage and I had actually went down a bit from the day before. Does anyone else have an opinion on fruit vs. nuts for a snack?

    Because of the sugar in apples I stick with the almonds to hit my fat levels and because fats keep me feeling full faster and longer than carbs. Whatever works for you should be fine.
  • bago08
    bago08 Posts: 360 Member
    bago08 wrote: »
    I typically have an apple as a mid afternoon snack at work. The other day I was stuck downtown and didnt have access to a store that sold apples so I bought a sleeve of almonds at a newsstand. I was a bit concerned because they were higher in calories than the apple but the next day I weighed myself to see the damage and I had actually went down a bit from the day before. Does anyone else have an opinion on fruit vs. nuts for a snack?

    Because of the sugar in apples I stick with the almonds to hit my fat levels and because fats keep me feeling full faster and longer than carbs. Whatever works for you should be fine.
    Thanks.. I did feel fuller longer. It was a pleasant surprise.
  • crystalewhite
    crystalewhite Posts: 422 Member
    bago08 wrote: »
    I actually prefer to mix my carbs and fats, it seems to keep me full longer. I love apples with a little almond butter and cheese and some kind of cracker.
    Almond butter? Not familiar with that but it sounds good.

    It's great! Cashew butter is really good too. Some of the bigger grocery stores now have those 'grind your own' nut butter stations so you can get some without any added sugar.
  • bago08
    bago08 Posts: 360 Member
    bago08 wrote: »
    I actually prefer to mix my carbs and fats, it seems to keep me full longer. I love apples with a little almond butter and cheese and some kind of cracker.
    Almond butter? Not familiar with that but it sounds good.

    It's great! Cashew butter is really good too. Some of the bigger grocery stores now have those 'grind your own' nut butter stations so you can get some without any added sugar.

    Ill have to check that out.. thanks for the advice.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    bago08 wrote: »
    Does anyone else have an opinion on fruit vs. nuts for a snack?

    It's not going to make one bit of difference to your weight the next day. If that's the only difference in your days you might lose a tiny bit slower if you add calories by eating the almonds, but presumably the calories vary for other reasons too, don't they?

    Anyway, for me both would be great snacks. See what helps fill you up more or what you are in the mood for or just vary them. I'm planning to have almonds with some blueberries for my afternoon snack today. ;-)
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    bago08 wrote: »
    I typically have an apple as a mid afternoon snack at work. The other day I was stuck downtown and didnt have access to a store that sold apples so I bought a sleeve of almonds at a newsstand. I was a bit concerned because they were higher in calories than the apple but the next day I weighed myself to see the damage and I had actually went down a bit from the day before. Does anyone else have an opinion on fruit vs. nuts for a snack?

    I think both make a great snack. I also think your choice of snack on that one day had nothing at all to do with your weight loss in one day. Weight fluctuations are common. Your overall calories will affect weight trends over time.
  • MakePeasNotWar
    MakePeasNotWar Posts: 1,329 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    Yes.

    I would have an apple with a few almonds, getting all my macros in one shot. That tube should last you a few days.

    No.

    A half-pound difference overnight cannot be blamed/credited to the almonds.

    Me too, I find the combo gives me enough volume from the fruit to feel full, but the added fat keeps me from being hungry again half an hour later.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,053 Member
    I actually prefer to mix my carbs and fats, it seems to keep me full longer. I love apples with a little almond butter and cheese and some kind of cracker.

    Another vote for fruit plus nuts in the same snack.

  • bago08
    bago08 Posts: 360 Member
    I ran across this. This seems accurate to what Ive noticed

    About 10-15% of the calories in nuts aren’t absorbed, and there is some evidence that eating nuts can boost metabolism slightly (38).

    Combined with the hunger-fighting properties, it makes sense that nuts are a great addition to an effective weight loss diet.

    Interestingly, there are some quality human studies that support this.

    In one of them, a low-calorie diet with 3 ounces (84 grams) of almonds increased weight loss by 62% compared to a diet enriched with complex carbohydrates (39).
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    edited August 2015
    bago08 wrote: »
    I ran across this. This seems accurate to what Ive noticed

    About 10-15% of the calories in nuts aren’t absorbed, and there is some evidence that eating nuts can boost metabolism slightly (38).

    Combined with the hunger-fighting properties, it makes sense that nuts are a great addition to an effective weight loss diet.

    Interestingly, there are some quality human studies that support this.

    In one of them, a low-calorie diet with 3 ounces (84 grams) of almonds increased weight loss by 62% compared to a diet enriched with complex carbohydrates (39).

    It was self reported intake and a high carb/low fat diet vs high fat/low carb diet. Greater satiation combined with water weight loss due to carb restriction will generally yield greater overall weight loss. It was also done on those with metabolic syndrome.

    http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v27/n11/full/0802411a.html

    CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that an almond-enriched LCD improves a preponderance of the abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome. Both dietary interventions were effective in decreasing body weight beyond the weight loss observed during long-term pharmacological interventions; however, the almond-LCD group experienced a sustained and greater weight reduction for the duration of the 24-week intervention. Almond supplementation of a formula-based LCD is a novel alternative to self-selected complex carbohydrates and has a potential role in reducing the public health implications of obesity.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    As long as it fits into your goals and satiates you, either works. I'm not a fan of nuts, though, so I'd choose the apple each time.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I usually see the effects of over or under eating a couple days later, not the next morning.

    I prefer fruit to nuts because fruit is more filling, tastes better and is lower in fat. I do low-fat, so the fat matters to me. Plus, I can eat a lot more fruit and get a wider variety of nutrients, so yay that! :)
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    I eat the nuts because I want to keep my fat/oils up.