Holiday Nuts the Healthy Way

Head to the store and pick up these tasty nut mixes to roast and serve at your next holiday gathering — or, prepare your own spiced nuts at home with our easy recipes.

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Mixed nuts

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Mixed nuts

Photo by: Ls9907

Ls9907

Nuts are a holiday favorite, and there are a lot of ways to get your hands on them. You can buy premade nut mixes, roast them, or make your own spiced nuts.

The Right Portions

Nuts are brimming with healthy fat, protein and vitamin E, but along with all the good stuff comes a moderate to high calorie count. In order to enjoy your nuts without going overboard, keep portions in check. For nut and nut mixes, that’s 1/4 cup.

Store-Bought Nut Mixes:

Formerly known as Royal Oak Peanuts, these babies are grown on a family farm that’s been around since the 1800s. Each batch is cooked according to a family recipe in pure 100 percent oil with no additives or preservatives.

Turn up the heat with these very flavorful peanuts. Flavors include Spicy Bloody Mary, Zesty Chili Lime, Hot Buffalo, and Thai Curry and Lemongrass. They’re sure to get everyone’s juices flowing!

If pistachios are more your style, check out Wonderful’s delicious Sweet Chili flavor. One serving (1/4 cup) is about 49 pistachios.

The Bold flavors are perfect for the holidays and are available in three flavors: Wasabi & Soy Sauce, Habanero BBQ and Sriracha.

SLOWCOOKER
SPICED NUTS
Food Network Kitchen
Food Network
Maple Syrup, Unsalted Butter, Cinnamon, Orange Zest, Kosher Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Pecans,
Cashews

SLOWCOOKER SPICED NUTS Food Network Kitchen Food Network Maple Syrup, Unsalted Butter, Cinnamon, Orange Zest, Kosher Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Pecans, Cashews

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Make Your Own Spiced Nuts

If you’re looking to have more control over the ingredients, here are five recipes to try.

Slow-Cooker Spiced Nuts (pictured above)

Toss cashews and pecans in your slow cooker along with several spices and turn on your slow cooker. In two hours you’ll have perfectly spiced nuts.

Rosemary, cayenne and maple syrup spice up a mixture of cashews and sunflower seeds.

Flavor your favorite nuts with a combo of thyme, cumin, mustard, cayenne and allspice.

Photo by: Jackie Alpers ©2014,Television FoodNetwork, G.P.All Rights Reserved

Jackie Alpers, 2014,Television FoodNetwork, G.P.All Rights Reserved

Ellie Krieger combines four nuts — pecans, almonds, pistachios and cashews — giving you even more nutrition in every bite!

Alton Brown shows you how to roast the perfect peanut using three simple ingredients.

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. She is the author of The Greek Yogurt Kitchen: More Than 130 Delicious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Day.

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