Maple Cinnamon Almonds

Fertility Friday + Recipe for Maple Cinnamon Almonds

Do you remember back in the ’80’s and ’90’s when all fat was considered “bad?”

Looking back on that time, it was almost comical the degree to which we feared fat. Companies worked so hard removing it from their products and people went crazy buying fat-free everything. I remember noshing on a box of fat-free cookies thinking, “wow, no fat, but they sure taste good, I’m so glad they’re good for me!”

Fat is Back?

Oh dear! Luckily research has improved and we are no longer shunning fat. In fact, now we know that fat is vital to our existence. Fats provide energy, help us absorb fat-soluble vitamins, and can keep our hearts healthy. We just have to be smart about the type of fats we’re choosing and how much of them we’re eating.

But I Can’t Eat as Much as I Want?

While all fats fit, it’s important to keep moderation in mind. Saturated and trans fats are the types of fats we should limit. Research is always on-going on this, and recently saturated fast have been in the news about not being as “bad” as we once thought. My advice? Stick with moderation. Go for the whole milk, but keep your serving to one cup. Enjoy that birthday cake, but choose the small slice instead of the massive monster piece. See where I’m going with this? Don’t over-indulge. It’s never wise to eat too much of one thing, right?

Instead, focus on getting more healthy fats into your diet. We call those unsaturated (specifically monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) fats. These unsaturated fats can also help support fertility by helping control blood sugar and tamper inflammation. Where do you find them? Great question!

Where to Find The Fantastic Fat:

Sources of polyunsaturated fats: fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines; flax seed and flax seed oil, walnuts and edamame

Sources of monounsaturated fats: nuts (like in these Maple Cinnamon Almonds!) and seeds, avocado, canola and olive oil 

Putting it Together

It’s easy! Eat fat, but make smart choices. Stick with moderation and balance your intake with other foods. Eating this way just makes sense! Feeling inspired? Get into your kitchen and make these yummy Maple Cinnamon Almonds so that you can enjoy some of those nutritious healthy fats!

 

Maple Cinnamon Almonds

Maple Cinnamon Almonds

Maple Cinnamon Almonds

Maple Cinnamon Almonds

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Maple Cinnamon Almonds


  • Author: Sara Haas

Description

Super easy snack made with almonds, maple syrup and ground cinnamon.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 1/2 cups almonds

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 300’F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. Place the salt, maple syrup, water and cinnamon in a medium pot and set over medium heat. Bring to a boil and stir to combine. Pour in almonds and stir until almonds are well coated. Spread out on prepared sheet pan and bake 20 minutes, rotating the pan half way through cooking time.
  3. Remove and allow to cool before enjoying.

Nutrition

  • Calories: 2118
  • Sugar: 32
  • Sodium: 1192
  • Fat: 180
  • Saturated Fat: 14
  • Unsaturated Fat: 157
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 90
  • Protein: 73
  • Cholesterol: 0

Fertility Feature: Let’s Talk Snacks!

Smart Snack Tips + Recipe for Sweet and Spicy Peanuts

Snacks! Yay! Snacks!

Right? Who doesn’t love a great snack!? How about if I told you that dietitians love and believe in snacks too? And that Liz and I also believe that snacks are an important part of staying well-nourished for fertility? It’s true, but here’s the deal, the type of snack you choose matters.

We’re not encouraging chips, donuts, or cookies. No, we want you to eat nourishing snack foods and keep them small. Remember, this isn’t a meal! Shoot for foods that make you feel good after eating them and keep the portion to a reasonable amount. 

Need more information? Sure you do! Don’t worry, Liz has you covered! She’s explains tips on smart snacking and shares an amazing recipe for Sweet and Spicy Peanuts. So head on over there now by clicking here to learn more.

Happy Snacking Friends!

Read All About It! Fertility In the News!

Fertility Feature: Infertility Awareness in the News!

We are so happy to announce that we’re not the only ones talking about infertility this week. So many great people are sharing their stories through the news and media and we wanted to take today to highlight a few with you. 

Before you head on over to Liz’s site for her amazing round-up of the latest “buzz” and news surrounding infertility, I thought I would share some of my reflections. 

Reflections on Infertility

I – Isolating. Even though you often feel isolated in this journey, please know you are NEVER alone! Liz and I are here to prove that! And Resolve is an amazing resource that can help you find support in your area.

F Futile. It may seem that your attempts at conceiving are futile. That all of the work you’re putting in isn’t paying off. But, we encourage you to have hope and to focus on the things you can control and the things that make you happy. Hard to do, we know, but definitely worth the effort.

EEmotional. You knew this one already. One day you’re the happiest you’ve ever been and the next, you’re crying in your pillow. Infertility is an emotional journey! Gain support from friends, family and US! 🙂

RRest. Yes, you heard me. Rest yourself. Nurture yourself. So many times we’re so busy caring for others, that we forget about ourselves. It’s ok to take a break, to take a deep breath and relax. 

TTime. It may often feel like time is working against you. But I encourage you to think differently. Realize that time is something you don’t have control over. So live in the moment, live in the now. 

IIntimate. Maybe not the word you’re thinking of, but it’s true. This is an intimate journey – so very personal. Honor that and the emotions that come with it. 

LLove. This is a journey that needs to have a foundation that starts with love. Take this time to nuture your relationship with your significant other. Build a strong base to bring that baby home to!

EEnlightening. I have learned more about myself and others than I ever thought I would through my journey with infertility. Enlightening doesn’t seem like a strong enough word for that gift. I’ve been blessed with a journey full of “aha” moments that have made me a better mother, wife, daughter, sister and person, in general. 

Click here to head over to Shaw Simple Swaps for her amazing fertility feature today! 
Fertility In the News

 

Fertility Feature: Meet Jessica Fishman Levinson

Fertility Feature: Meet Jessica Fishman Levinson of Nutritioulicious + grab her recipe for this fantastic Salmon Waldorf Salad!

Today Liz and I are so excited to introduce you to dietitian and mom extraordinaire, Jessica Fishman Levinson. Her recipes, stories and blog posts can be found just about everywhere (see her bio below) and bless her heart for always putting that awesome nutritional touch on everything she writes. She’s a credible and valuable nutrition resource and we’re so happy she’s decided to contribute to our Fertility Series. Without further adieu, meet Jessica Fishman Levinson!

She’s Legit! Check out her amazing bio!

Jessica Levinson Headshot

Jessica Fishman Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist and the founder of Nutritioulicious, a New York-based nutrition communications and consulting business with a focus on culinary nutrition. She maintains the popular Nutritioulicious blog, where she shares weekly meal plans, family-friendly recipes, and nutrition tips. Jessica’s recipes and nutrition recommendations can also be found in numerous media outlets and health and lifestyle websites, including the monthly Culinary Corner column of Today’s Dietitian Magazine. Follow Jessica on Twitter, FacebookPinterest, and Instagram.

And she’s sharing her story (and recipe!) with us!

I’m honored that Sara and Liz asked me to participate in their posts for Infertility Awareness Week. As someone who struggled with infertility, it’s a topic near and dear to my heart and I’m so happy that Sara and Liz started Fertility Fridays to bring attention to the often unspoken topic. When my husband and I realized getting pregnant was not going to be as easy for us as it was for many of our friends, I felt very alone and depressed. It seemed like everyone around me was pregnant or just giving birth to newborn babies and as happy as I was for them, I couldn’t help but feel jealous of what they had and the fact that we were going through treatments to help us get there. I remember sitting in the packed waiting room of the fertility clinic looking around at all the women and men who were sitting there with their heads buried in magazines and books and thinking to myself this is such a missed opportunity for people who are all struggling to come together, talk to each other, and find comfort in a shared experience. I hope that Sara and Liz’s focus on fertility helps other couples open up more about their experiences. 

My story has a happy ending and I know I am lucky. Despite having to go through various treatments, we were able to conceive, which I know is not the case for so many others. Our four year old twin daughters are a blessing to us and I am forever grateful for them. I wish the same for all those who are suffering and struggling with infertility and know you are not alone. 

We are so incredibly honored to have Jessica share her story!  Just to prove how awesome and generous she is, she’s also got an amazing, fertility-friendly recipe for you. Visit her over at Nutritioulicious and grab the recipe for her Salmon Waldorf Salad!

Salmon Waldorf-003

Don’t forget to check out the other spotlight features of the week over on Liz’s blog too!

Meal Plan like a Pro! Grab my NEW Meal Planning Workbook!

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