Almonds come in many different varieties and types. Whether brown, blanched, sliced, flaked or roasted at the Christmas market, almonds are truly versatile. Everywhere, the sweet and mild nuts have now become popular.
But where do almonds come from? Why are they so healthy? And what is the best way to incorporate them into your healthy breakfast? Today we will show you 4 tips for a healthy breakfast with almonds. We will get to the bottom of these questions in today's blog post.
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Where do almonds come from?
The almond tree is a member of the rose family and is so well known precisely because of its pink flowers. Almond trees flower annually between March and April. The almond tree originally comes from southwest Asia. The plant loves the Mediterranean climate and so today these magnificent trees can be found in the USA, Australia, the Mediterranean region, Iran, Pakistan and China.
From about 4-5 years of age, the almond trees bear the first almonds that can be harvested. Almonds need a dry and warm to hot climate in summer and mild winters. They can only withstand very light and short frosts and do not tolerate waterlogging. The soil in which almond trees thrive best must be humus-rich, permeable, loamy, sandy and slightly calcareous – which is another reason why the largest almond plantations are found in the USA.
How are almonds processed?
The flowering of the almond trees lasts until fall. By then, the hairy, egg-shaped fruit of the almond tree has emerged from the blossom. The almond kernel forms inside it. Strictly speaking, the almond is not a nut, but a kernel – but that's just a matter of form. As soon as it is time to harvest and the almond is ripe, the shell bursts open.
The almonds are either harvested by hand or by machine. Nowadays, they are more likely to be harvested by machine, where they fall into nets.
How healthy are almonds really?
Almonds are packed with nutrients, as they are rich in proteins and healthy fats. The fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Dietary fiber, vitamin E, vitamin B2, magnesium and manganese are also found in the little nuts. A small portion of the energy in the almond, however, is excreted by the body unused because the almond's fiber content is very high.
Almonds are also very good for the immune system and metabolism. The vitamin E in almonds acts as a pioneer here, protecting the cells in which the healthy fats are found. Almonds also keep the skin young and curb the appetite. These natural satiators also lower cholesterol levels and help with type 2 diabetes. Almonds are therefore more than worthy of the title superfood!
4 tips for a healthy breakfast with almonds
1. A hot breakfast is a healthy breakfast
We talk about it all the time: hot breakfasts are the key to success. The advantages of a hot meal in the morning have been discussed for a long time. Most people agree on this. A warm, healthy breakfast makes the start to the day even better! Traditional Chinese medicine also knows about the advantages of a warm breakfast.
Your body doesn't have to warm the food to your body temperature – it's already warm. This means that it takes less energy and aids digestion. Almonds are easy to incorporate into a warm breakfast – just sprinkle a few chopped or grated almonds on top for a healthy fat boost.
Porridge is the perfect warm breakfast and has become a favorite among breakfast fans in recent years. The combination of very healthy oats and almonds makes porridge something very special. Oats are known to be THE regional superfood – so why not add our delicious Verival porridge with almonds as a topping and enjoy a warm, healthy breakfast?
2. Almonds are the perfect topping
Almonds are not just any healthy nuts. They are the perfect topping for any breakfast you can think of . Combined with porridge or muesli, they are a must-have for your healthy breakfast. How many almonds are healthy for you is easy to answer.
A handful of almonds is enough! That's about 30 grams and satisfies your daily requirement. If you eat a handful, you will consume about 170 calories. That includes healthy fats too! The healthy fats in almonds – like olive oil – consist mainly of monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid) and, to a lesser extent, polyunsaturated linoleic acid.
Here is a delicious and healthy breakfast recipe with almonds:
Almond-Raspberry Granola with Coconut Chips
Preparation time: 5 min.
Cook time: 15 min.
Total time: 20 min.
Serves: 3 portions
Ingredients
- 150 g rolled oats
- 40 g agave syrup
- 25 g oil
- 50 g almonds
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 15 g coconut chips
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 30 g dried raspberries
Preparation
- Preheat the oven (180°C top/bottom heat). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix all the ingredients except the dried berries and coconut chips.
- Spread the mix evenly on the lined baking sheet. Bake in a hot oven for about 20 minutes, turning a few times.
- Remove the granola from the oven and let it cool completely. Carefully mix in the dried berries and coconut chips and store the finished granola in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
The health benefits of oats are incredible. They are good for the heart, digestion and blood circulation. Oats are almost a miracle food! They also help you lose weight, prevent diabetes and vascular diseases and simply taste incredibly good. We are big fans of our porridge and hope you will become one too. 😉
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3. Almond milk? Yes please!
Many people suffer from lactose intolerance – maybe you are one of them! But if you still want to enjoy a “milky” breakfast, you're not lost. There are now many alternatives to normal milk. It's really delicious when you make your own almond milk! And it's not that difficult. Almond milk is not only delicious in muesli or with granola, but also with coffee and porridge.
Here's how you can easily make almond milk yourself:
4. Overnight oats for late risers
We've already told you that oats are our regional miracle food. But if you're more of a lazy person in the morning and don't want to prepare porridge in the kitchen, overnight oats are perfect for you.
Simply place oats with water or milk and fresh fruit in the refrigerator the night before. In the morning, you can take them out of the fridge and they are already ready to eat! Our tip: sprinkle almonds on top of the soaked oats in the morning. That way, nothing stands in the way of your perfect start to the day!
