Almonds and Calories - Worth It?

2»

Replies

  • ryandeceptacon
    ryandeceptacon Posts: 26 Member
    For me, I find it astounding that you feel you need to eat so many to satisfy. A handful of almonds really isn't that bad calorie-wise. It certainly isn't close to 340.
  • What's the calories per almond? Is it as horrific as peanuts because if so I find it unlikely that enough to actually stop you being hungry wouldn't be several hundred calories? I have a bag of small salted peanuts - each about the size of a pea - and I'm sure I worked out even they are something dumb like 10kCal each!!

    About 7 calories per almond.

    According to Google's calorie database 1oz of almonds and 1oz of peanuts are virtually identical at 163 and 161 calories.
  • LiminalAscendance
    LiminalAscendance Posts: 489 Member
    For me, I find it astounding that you feel you need to eat so many to satisfy. A handful of almonds really isn't that bad calorie-wise. It certainly isn't close to 340.

    It's a crazy world, isn't it?
  • Pedalpush
    Pedalpush Posts: 246 Member
    I sure hope so, I've eaten a *kitten*-ton of them today...
  • jeffd247
    jeffd247 Posts: 319 Member
    I was buying the 100 calorie packs of Emerald plain Almonds and eating that. I then noticed that every packet contained 14 almonds so I bought a big thing of them and just count out 14. That is what I take with me to work for a snack.

    Otherwise I would plow through the whole bag.
  • smc864
    smc864 Posts: 570 Member
    I keep almonds at my house for one purpose... macro adjustments. If I haven't had enough fat that day and want to get my macros as close as possible to my goal I will have a serving of raw almonds. I really like the way they taste but they are just so high in calories. I would rather have peanut butter anyway :bigsmile:
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I've been reading a lot about eating nuts as a healthy snack. I really like almonds and have been getting plain, dry roasted, unsalted almonds from the fresh market. They're quite tasty!

    I just added my snack of them (which I haven't eaten all of yet) of probably 2oz of almonds, which to me doesn't seem like a lot, and came out with approximately 340 calories.

    While the 10grams of extra protein is nice, I could just eat a protein bar, save 100calories, and get an extra ~20grams of protein.

    Does it really make sense to use almonds as a snack if you're trying to eat at a deficit, they don't seem like a very good "bang for your buck: food option...

    Am I missing anything?

    They are extraordinary nutritious...they especially good for your ticker. When I was trying to resolve some ticker issues, my dr and dietitian really pushed the almonds as well as things like avocado...heart all better now. yes, they are calorie dense...but extremely nutrient dense as well...beyond just a little protein. it's all about the heart healthy, heart saving fat in them that really go a long way in improving HDL levels...that's why I ate them and continue to make room for them in my diet. I only ever had about an ounce per day when losing and no more than 1/2 an avocado per day...at maintenance I usually have a couple ounces of almonds pretty routinely.

    I can't stand avocado......but love almonds. I sprinkle them on salads ....crunchy, yummy. A few sliced almonds give my morning oatmeal staying power too!
  • I love almonds and I agree that they're a lovely healthy snack but I have portion control problems with them. I'll weigh out 30g, eat them, think, "That wasn't many", weigh out another 30g, etc. by the time I've finished I have to go to the gym for an hour! I now avoid them unless they're in indovidual serving packs.

    I bought a container of whole, roasted with salt (sorry, can't eat them any other way;) almonds, and before putting it away I separated it into baggies by 1oz portions. On a day when I see I need more calories, I'll take one bag as a snack.

    I'm trying not to eat at too much of a deficit because I'm nursing. But sometimes I'm done eating for the day, still at a deficit, so nuts are a perfect solution. I don't wanna break out the real nosh cuz then I can't stop, and it seems a shame to eat only healthy food and then end up with a couple of cookies. (Can't say that never happens though...)
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    Almonds=worth the cals. BUT I usually stick to about 1 serving, which is closer to 150 cals. The other option is dark chocolate covered almonds as a dessert. I stick to about 1 serving of those, which is about 200 cals, BUT it is a completely satisfying and healthy dessert. I was obsessed with raw almonds for awhile and ate about 2-3 servings per day. My HDL level was amazing.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Yes if you like them. For me, not much. I'll have a bit in oatmeal or yogurt but I'm not overly fond of them. Almond butter though... lol.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Does it really make sense to use almonds as a snack if you're trying to eat at a deficit, they don't seem like a very good "bang for your buck: food option...

    Am I missing anything?

    Nope, you aren't missing anything. They are a terrible bang-for-the-buck, and proof that food isn't supposed to come in easily accessible cans and jars. :laugh:

    Extremely dense calorically, so use sparingly, or plan accordingly!
  • I eat them twice a day, 25 in the morning as a snack and 25 in the afternoon as a snack while I am at work. Just plain, raw almonds and I think they are quite tasty!
  • nm212
    nm212 Posts: 570 Member
    If you can control the portion size, they are very healthy and filling for a before work-out snack. I'd eat 7-14 almonds and a handful of baby carrots or a small apple to fill up. I wouldn't rely on almonds or nuts alone as a snack because you can easily overeat and add extra calories. Combine it with fruit or veggies and you are good to go!!
  • RivenV
    RivenV Posts: 1,667 Member
    They're not worth it to me, but then... I don't like almonds unless they're covered in chocolate. I used to eat them all the time because I thought they were a good, healthy snack with the added benefit of some extra protein.

    But now... I skip the almonds and just have ice cream as a snack. Waaaaaaay more satisfying and delicious.
  • I found that eating nuts curbed my hanger better than bars, chocolate etc. So I grab my 21 hazelnuts or 23 almonds and I am satisfied in a few minutes.
  • oohmercyme
    oohmercyme Posts: 279 Member
    Totally worth it.
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Not when you're cutting imo. Too many cals, too little volume.
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    I've been reading a lot about eating nuts as a healthy snack. I really like almonds and have been getting plain, dry roasted, unsalted almonds from the fresh market. They're quite tasty!

    I just added my snack of them (which I haven't eaten all of yet) of probably 2oz of almonds, which to me doesn't seem like a lot, and came out with approximately 340 calories.

    While the 10grams of extra protein is nice, I could just eat a protein bar, save 100calories, and get an extra ~20grams of protein.

    Does it really make sense to use almonds as a snack if you're trying to eat at a deficit, they don't seem like a very good "bang for your buck: food option...

    Am I missing anything?

    Yes. You dont seem to comprehend that fat is not the devil. The End.

    ETA: Last week one of my day's macro breakdown was:

    63% FAT
    6% Carbs
    31% Protein

    P.S. Please send me all your leftover almonds. They are not only delicious they are kinda expensive. Thanks

    I'm with this guy. I freakin love almonds. Gimme some healthy fats any day. :drinker:
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Why do people keep saying almonds are unprocessed? Unless you have a tree in your backyard, they are machine harvested, machine shelled, pasteurized, sometimes roasted... Nuts are extremely processed snacks. Damn healthy, but very much processed.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    I eat some before or after a workout ..... everything in moderation :drinker:
  • NikiChicken
    NikiChicken Posts: 576 Member
    I eat them all the time! For me they are worth it. I like the fat and protein they provide without the extra carbs of a protein bar. (I limit my carbs due to T2 diabetes) They are tasty and filling to me and absolutely worth it. I just weigh out however much I want to spend calories on and leave it at that.
  • OMGSugarOHNOS
    OMGSugarOHNOS Posts: 204 Member
    Unprocessed
    Uh no.

    Anyways, all this time i was considering a handful of almonds to be a pretty filling, low cal snack. Da faq?.

    Any diet plan that cuts out nutritious food that you enjoy(or any food you enjoy eating for that matter) needs to GTFO
  • EHisCDN
    EHisCDN Posts: 480 Member
    I'd say it depends on whether you like them. If you do then go for it!
    For me, I don't go nuts for nuts :P. They aren't my favourite thing to eat and don't leave me satisfied so I generally don't eat them. Although sometimes I'll add them to yogurt for breakfast or something.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    Yes!!
  • NerdyTXChick
    NerdyTXChick Posts: 155 Member
    I like to pair 14 raw almonds with a 50 calorie cheese stick for a 150 calorie snack. They taste good together and the protein and fat keeps me full, even though it may not be that big in volume.
  • tmm_0127
    tmm_0127 Posts: 545 Member
    I looove them as a snack, but I weigh them out on my food scale to make sure I don't go over the serving size (generaly 24 almonds). There are also 100 calorie packs you can buy.