I don’t count calories.
Not in, not out, not expended, not expected, not projected. Ain’t nobody got time for that gobbledygook. Certainly not me.
I couldn’t give a donkey’s booty about carb counts, fat grams or protein, bro (pounds chest). The only macro I care to know is Macklemore, and I’m hoping he’ll take me Downtown (yes, I’m still obsessed).
What I can get behind though, in addition to the Hubby on a Friday night (clearly), is ingredients.
I like to know exactly what I’m putting in my mouth (insert naughty joke of choice here).
I tend to steer clear of things I can’t pronounce or don’t fit. Instead, I prefer whole food ingredients, the kinds which come mostly from Nature.
Since they’re nutrient dense, they help sustain and satisfy me long-term. They also make me feel good about what I’m ingesting and where my consumer dollars are going.
It’s a win for me, and it’s a win for the planet. Sign me up, twice now that voting season is here.
My point is (I swear I have one), some people avoid these types of foods when they’re high in calories and fat. Specifically, walnuts. These little beauties get a bad wrap which isn’t deserved. Yes, they’re calorically high and yes, they contains lots of good for you and necessary fats.
Walnuts are also are chock full of other amazing properties too.****
- They’re packed with Healthy Fats: Omega 3’s to be exact which come with a laundry list of benefits all their own.*
- Healthy fats lead to flowing locks and glowing skin, not to mention tremendous brain benefits. New studies show they aid in fighting off dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Walnuts are great for pregnant women specifically because of the DHA in them. They reduce the baby’s chances of developing food allergies and are important for visual and neurological development in infants.
- They’re good for weight control. After three days, they’ve been show to increase satiety.
- Cancer Fighting Properties and Heart Health: walnuts are high in antioxidants properties along with anti-inflammatory nutrients, which have been shown to lower the risk of chronic oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
- Improve Sleep and Fight Stress: they’re a rich source of fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fatty acids, which give walnuts it’s stress fighting properties while the melatonin compound can help induce sleep.
There’s a bazillion more reasons Walnuts are the Cat’s Pajamas. The ones above though are enough for me to say screw calories. Go Nuts.
The icing on the cake is the Coconut Oil used in this recipe. Hailed as the second coming, it’s the new superfood. Need convincing? Head here.
I’d recommend this recipe too (of course I would). It’ll satisfy your sweet tooth while being ridiculously healthy for you, and with only five ingredients, these Oven Roasted Candied Walnuts are super simple to make. Now that’s something you can feel good about.
- 1 cup plain Walnuts
- 1 Tbsps. Coconut Oil, melted
- 1/8 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 1/8 cup Maple Syrup
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- Add walnuts to a medium sized bowl. Coat with melted coconut oil. Stir in salt and vanilla extract. Stir in maple syrup, being sure to coat all the walnuts.
- Spread walnuts onto a rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes in the pan before flipping onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Store cooled walnuts in an airtight container.
What’s your take on nuts? Love ’em or leave ’em? Do you have a favorite nut?
Da says
November 11, 2015 at 8:02 AMHow about almonds?
Meghan says
November 11, 2015 at 8:53 AMThose are fantastic for you too for much of the same reasons. Healthy fats = good.
Michele @ paleorunningmomma says
November 11, 2015 at 8:08 AMCandied pecans are my favorite but I’ll take walnuts any day. I have to say nuts are one thing I love candied over savory 🙂
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 10:24 AMPecans are delicious too. I can see why they’re you’re favorite.
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Danielle says
November 11, 2015 at 8:23 AMBy George these are making me happy! I absolutely adore nuts, and walnuts are pretty much at the top of my nut pole… Nut pole?
Despite my dental weakness I still figure out a way to have these gems in my life. Soaking them or pulverizing them allows for all the fun and no broken teeth. Winning!
I could bathe in coconut oil with maple syrup and scrub myself in salt. YES!!!
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:12 AMI need a nut pole in my life.
I think that’s a recipe for a great body scrub. I must try it.
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Emily says
November 11, 2015 at 9:16 AMI LOVE walnuts! This year was the first year that I’ve actually eaten them a lot, and I think they’ve become one of my favorites!
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:13 AMYou and me both. Walnuts are super delicious. I use them often in my granola recipes.
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Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says
November 11, 2015 at 10:12 AMSimple and tasty. I’m partial to the almond, but cashews are gaining steam. 🙂
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:14 AMI can see why. Cashews are fantastic too. So rich and creamy.
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Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food says
November 11, 2015 at 10:45 AMI totally agree with you! It’s easy to steer clear of nuts due to the high calorie/fat content, but it’s all good stuff. I do love walnuts, though my favorite nut is probably cashews.
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:15 AMIt’s funny people steer clear of nuts because the fat/calorie content and they’ve actually been shown to help weight loss and maintenance because they’re fulfilling. Irony at it’s finest.
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Suzy says
November 11, 2015 at 11:32 AMI super sonic love nuts, any kind. But mostly cashews and salted peanuts.
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:16 AMMy husband eats salted peanuts like it’s his job.
I prefer to suck on the shells until I’ve gotten all the salt off and then I dig into the nut inside. Weird, but delicious.
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Erin says
November 11, 2015 at 11:32 AMThese look so good! I’m allergic to walnuts, but I bet they would be great with pecans or almonds instead 🙂
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:30 AMOh shoot, that’s a bummer about walnuts. I’ve got a different recipe for Candied Almonds you might like: http://cleaneatsfastfeets.com/2015/01/16/candied-roasted-almond-recipe/
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Kate says
November 11, 2015 at 11:54 AMI love your approach to calories vs ingredients. One of my professors (who is an RD) thinks we should do away with the nutritional label and just have an ingredient list. I have a feeling I’d end up eating a million and one jars of salted mixed nuts.
These would be such a good thing to have for pre-Christmas dinner!
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:31 AMI’m with your professor. I think those nutrition labels are shit and lead to more confusion and failed dieting.
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Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
November 11, 2015 at 12:54 PMIt’s not often I’d say this… but I’d totally put these nuts in my mouth.
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:31 AMI’ve got plenty of nuts for you.
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meredith @ Cookie ChRUNicles says
November 11, 2015 at 3:17 PMI love a good salad with candied walnuts and cranberries. I can’t eat raw walnuts (allergies) but cooked and candied like this are perfect for me!
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:32 AMWell I’m even more glad I roasted the walnuts now. They’d be fantastic in a salad.
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Lisa @ Lisa the Vegetarian says
November 11, 2015 at 6:07 PMRoasted walnuts sound like a great snack for the holiday season and colder months. Great idea!
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:33 AMYeah I love having roasted nuts around so I can have something quick and easy to munch on. Not to mention, they’re a great addition to tons of dishes.
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Arman @ thebigmansworld says
November 11, 2015 at 6:26 PM“I couldn’t give a donkey’s booty about..”
Omg. I am lol’ing like an idiot. You are a gem and I think this may be better than your almonds…I guess I’ll need to taste test these 😉
love Apollo.
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:34 AMI was hoping someone would notice the donkey’s booty line. I’m glad it was you.
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Brittany says
November 11, 2015 at 10:14 PMOhhh girl, you know I love my nuts. So much so that I overdo them all too often, causing troubles. HAHA that won’t stop me forever though, I’d snag a handful of these if I were in your hood.
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:35 AMHow about next time you’re in my hood, I make you a batch of these.
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Jen @ Chase the Red Grape says
November 11, 2015 at 10:22 PMYes yes yes!!! (Insert happy dance!!!)
Ain’t got time for calorie counting – I wish people would focus more on what is in their food instead! And a million yeses for nuts and walnuts in particular, they are one of my favourites and I always use them to make pesto.
I will be making these for sure – I know they would go down a treat at Christmas in particular!
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:36 AMI’m all about the nuts, bout the nuts, no calories. 🙂
You gave me a great idea. I bet these nuts would make some fantastic nut butter!! Or I wonder if we could make sweet pesto.
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Jen@jpabstfitness says
November 12, 2015 at 5:52 AMThese sound amazing, lately my snack of choice has been honey roasted peanuts.
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:37 AMI’m a big fan of anything honey roasted too. 🙂
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Heather@hungryforbalance says
November 12, 2015 at 9:33 AMI’m partial to Brazil nuts, but I’ll take walnuts any day. I have never thought about roasting (and glazing) walnuts, I don’t know why, though! Really though, I think I would eat anything covered in coconut oil.
Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:39 AMGreat idea with the Brazil nuts. I rarely eat those unless they’re in some type of mix. You’re right. They are fantastic though.
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MassachusEATS says
November 12, 2015 at 10:07 AMThese sound fantastic and that photo made me drool. ::applauds:: 🙂
Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:40 AMPhotos that make you drool = blogging success!!
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Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
November 12, 2015 at 5:09 PMI like how you threw “irresistible” in there. Very nice 😉 And after being obsessed with calorie counting for years and years, I can definitely say that life is so much better without that nonsense in it. You’ll never catch me counting another calorie, either in or out. Math was never my strong suit anyways.
And while I’m still wary of walnuts because I don’t -quite- know how they sit with my allergies, I do love them. Almonds will always be my #1 though.
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Meghan says
November 14, 2015 at 11:40 AMA little birdie suggested I toss in irresistible. A smart one at that. 🙂
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Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
November 23, 2015 at 3:33 PMOh wow, I had no idea walnuts helped reduce the chances of food allergies in babies. I’m not a huge walnut fan…for some reason they hurt the roof of my mouth when I eat them straight up, but I do like them in recipes. Banana bread, brownies, or that kale, cranberry sauté I made a couple years back (I’ve been thinking about that recipe a lot since I’ve started thinking about the holidays, but alas I’m the only one in my family with mature tastebuds and I don’t feel like making it all for myself). I usually say my favorite nut is a Brazil nut, but if based on consumption, I’d have to confess that peanuts are at the top of the list. I love all those crazy nut butters out there, but there’s just something to be said about some plain ol’ peanut butter…particularly when warm and melty on a toasted english muffin (yep, I’m still riding that train!)
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Meghan says
November 26, 2015 at 7:43 AMIt’s a good train to ride. I’m pretty sure peanut (butter) will forever be my favorite.
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