Healthy snacking benefits your overall health, curbs cravings, fights weight gain, regulates mood, boosts brain power and gives you energy to keep going all day. A handful of cinnamon and cayenne roasted mixed nuts can pack your diet with filling protein, fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, as well as important vitamins and minerals.
Your blood sugar dips about three to five hours after consuming a meal. Eating small, frequent snacks will keep your metabolism charged up as well as helping to normalize your blood sugar. Waiting to eat until you are more-than-hungry can throw your body into a famine mode, which will slow metabolism thus making it easier to gain weight. Contrary to what most people believe, studies and clinical trials suggest that regular nut consumption is unlikely to contribute to obesity and, in fact, may even help in weight loss.
Try this flavorful and healthy cinnamon and cayenne roasted mixed nuts recipe in place of your regular morning or mid-afternoon snack. Keep some at your desk and also in the kitchen so that you can grab a handful quickly. Try placing a jar in the office break-room to help encourage healthy snacking among your co-workers.
Cinnamon and Cayenne Roasted Mixed Nuts Recipe
Instructions
- 1 1/2 Cups raw pecans
- 1 1/2 Cups raw cashews
- 1 1/2 Cups raw almonds
- 2 Tablespoons raw coconut oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground sweet paprika
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Crystal Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine nuts.
- In a small bowl combine the remaining ingredients.
- Pour the spiced coconut oil over the nuts in the large bowl mixing well to evenly coat all the nuts.
- Spread the nuts on an even layer on the parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake the nuts, stirring and tossing occasionally, 25-30 minutes or until roasted.
- Remove nuts from oven and allow to cool. Sever.
- Refrigerate remaining leftovers in an airtight container for no more than five days.
Options: Just about any of your favorite nuts and seeds can be used in this recipe.
Resources
Rios, Emilio. Health Benefits of Nut Consumption. Nutrients. 2010 Jul; 2(7): 652–682.Published online 2010 Jun 24. doi: 10.3390/nu2070652
