Emerald 100 Calorie Almond Packs *Review*

These days, it seems grocery store shelves are absolutely littered with "low calorie" or "100 calorie" snack packs.  They usually come in the form of a cardboard box labeled with some colorful picture of a very yummy looking cookie, cracker, or combination of the two.  Sometimes they come with a little bit of frosting, other times they have intricate lacy designs dancing across the surface of these mini cakes.  If you've ever bought a box, you know it's filled with perfectly portioned little foil baggies topped off with miniature versions of the cover art, dry little cakes that aren't much bigger than your fingernails (or more plentiful.)  Rarely do they taste very good, and I can guarantee that almost NEVER will they leave you the least bit satisfied.  Not to mention, despite being only 100 calories, these little treats aren't the least bit healthy for you.  They're filled with artificial ingredients that'll encourage your body to hold onto that body fat you're trying so hard to lose.  Ladies and gentleman, there is an alternative to the nasty 100 calorie snack cake fad.

Luckily for you, this solution comes pre-packaged, therefore you'll get the portions right every single time.  AND it's loaded with tons of vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats, and low in carbohydrates.  And guess what else, it's a much tastier product than any of those stupid little crackers.  What is this revolutionary low calorie snack pack?  They're called Emerald 100 Calorie Almond Packs.  Now Emerald is a big name in nuts (check out their website here: http://emeraldnuts.com/press/images/products/Emerald_family.jpg), and I believe that these 100 calorie snack packs are probably one of the smartest ideas they could've come up with.  You get around 20 nuts per package (or maybe like 25, I'll have to count next time I have a pack), which equals out to be about 100 calories exactly.  Here's the nutritional label for each snack pack:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 18g (1 pack)

Amount per Serving:  Calories 100

Calories from Fat 81.0

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 9g    13%

Saturated Fat 0.6g    3%

Cholesterol 0mg    0%

Sodium 150mg    6%

Total Carbohydrate 4g    1%

Dietary Fiber 2g    8%

Sugars 1g

Protein 4g    6%

Est. Percent of Calories from:

Fat 71.7%

Carbs 17.7%

Protein 10.6%

So what exactly is so great about these little packets of almonds?  Well, obviously it has to do with the properties of almonds themselves.  Not only are almonds one of the healthiest nuts you could ever consume, they're very satisfying and therefore will leave you more full than you might expect (and definitely more full than a 100 calorie cookie pack.)  With plain, roasted almonds, you get all sorts of remarkable health benefits:

Healthy Fats:  Almonds have a very large amount of unsaturated, heart healthy fat.  The fat in almonds has been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol quite effectively, and will also prevent unneccessary inflammation in your body.

Lower Risk of Obesity/Weight Gain:  That's right, you read correctly.  The fats in almonds (and other nuts) has actually been shown (in several studies) to DECREASE the risk of weight gain.  Here's a little blurb from an article regarding the subject:

The 28-month study involving 8,865 adult men and women in Spain, found that participants who ate nuts at least two times per week were 31% less likely to gain weight than were participants who never or almost never ate nuts.

That's pretty awesome, isn't it?  So while nuts may be calorie dense, they definitely will NOT add fat to your figure if enjoyed in moderation.  And, because fat is satiating, you're more likely to remain full for longer after consuming a 100 calorie almond pack, which can keep your calories for the rest of your day in check.  Neat!

Protein:  While almonds aren't the greatest source of protein out there, you still get a good 4 grams of protein per 100 calorie Emerald almond pack, which is nothing to be scoffed at.  The protein in almonds can help you to sustain lean muscle mass, which will in turn keep your metabolism running full tilt and your fat loss efforts at a maximum.

Vitamins/Minerals:  Almonds are packed with all sorts of those little healthful vitamins and minerals our bodies need to stay healthy, and each almond pack has 25% of your daily vitamin E, 4% of your daily iron, and 4% of your daily calcium as well.  That's a pretty good profile for such a pocket sized snack!

Now before I conclude, I'd like to personally vouch for these almond packs as being one of the greatest things that's ever happened to my college diet.  They're incredibly versatile, portable, and can be incorporated into your diet no matter what your goal may be.  Want to lose weight?  It can be easily done with these packets, they'll fill you up and put your body into fat burning mode.  Want to pack on the muscle?  It's easy to throw a couple of these packets in your belly to increase your daily calorie consumption and give your muscles protein and healthy fats to help develop more lean mass.  I personally use them for the latter purpose, and find they compliment a meal of canned salmon quite nicely, and give my body a little more material to work with when it comes to my muscle building goals.

All in all these 100 calorie almond packs from Emerald are probably one of the smartest choices you can make when it comes to mid day snacking.  They're easy to carry just about anywhere, and are EXTREMELY healthy.  They've got all sorts of nutrients that your body needs to really become a lean, mean, muscular fat burning machine.  Not to mention that these almonds are absolutely DELICIOUS.

So what are you waiting for?  Pick up a package, you won't regret it, and your body will finally thank you for the elimination of those nasty snack cakes.



GOOD LUCK!

Start Packing

I'm currently on a short break from training due to a family trip down to NYC.  That's right, the Big Apple!  And sitting here on the good ol' Amtrak really has caused me to remember a simple yet extremely crucial activity that any dieter needs to become quite good at if they wish to succeed in their weight/muscle related journey.  What is this simple skill that is so often overlooked?

Why, PACKING FOOD of course!

Think about it.  No matter how strict or successful your diet is, it can become unsuccessful quite quickly once the choice of food is no longer in your control.  Sure, you can always modify decently healthy menu items (which I will eventually discuss in a later article), but wouldn't it be nice to know exactly the number of calories, nutrients, and all that other important nutritional information of your food?  Why not count it all out beforehand?  Make sure you won't get stuck with a greasy burger and diet soda just because that's all the menu has!

First things first, if it's a long trip, pack things that'll keep for a while.  Certain fruits and veggies will keep for days unrefrigerated, including apples, oranges, clementines, carrots, peppers, onions, celery, lettuce, bananas, tomatoes, need I go further?

Now I'm perfectly content to eat this things undressed, but maybe you're not quite at that level yet.  So work around it!  Pack some little containers of healthy sauces/toppings.  Mustard, salsa, pepper, balsamic vinegar, heck, whatever you feel like you need to make those veggies palatable.  You and I both know they're a crucial part of any sort of healthy diet.

What about protein?  Well, the first thing that immediately pops into my mind (and hopefully yours as well) is a good, cheap whey protein supplement.  Save the good stuff for your gym days, and run out and purchase a 15 dollar pack of the Walmart brand.  Sure it may not taste amazing, but hey, I think you'll be all right.  It mixes easily in water, and is easy to bag up and pack into even the tightest suitcases.  Just make sure those bags are sealed!

Another great source of protein is vacuum packaged fish, like tuna and salmon!  They sell them in almost any grocery store, and generally you'll get between 15-20 grams of protein for less than 100 calories!  I can almost guarantee it will be quite satisfying too, as lean protein generally is good at filling you up quick.  The salmon by itself is delicious in my opinion, and I don't think it'll require much (if any) additives to chew it up and chug it down.  The tuna on the other hand, while again, one of my personal favorites even plain, might need a little spicing up for you to enjoy it.  Cayenne pepper goes a long way, as does a good bean salsa.

If the trip is shorter, you have pretty much all the freedom in the world to bring whatever you need.  And you should bring something, because remember to keep that metabolism up in general it's a good idea to eat at least 5 times throughout the day.

Some of my favorite packaged meals include:

Oats and whey:  Just what it sounds like!  1/2 cup of rolled oats, one scoop of chocolate whey protein.  Add a little water until it's a yummy mush, and eat up all those tasty complex carbs and rich source of protein.  Around 300 calories and nearly the PERFECT muscle building food.  If you're looking to pack on a little more size, add a tablespoon or two of natural peanut butter and get some healthy fats in there!

Vegetable Medley:  This can be whatever you want.  I love mixing together corn, chickpeas, black beans, diced tomatoes, diced peppers, diced onions, peas, the works!  You'll create an extremely yummy bean salad that's packed with healthy grains and complex carbs.  Need a little more flavor?  I'll say it again, spice it up!  Add some salsa!  Salsa is only 10-15 calories for two tablespoons, so if you can handle 3 servings you can have a pretty tasty meal at only a few hundred calories, not to mention an extremely healthy one!

Mixed Nuts:  I suggest bringing all sorts of these little guys, but in pre-measured packages!  Don't bring the whole can, because most likely you'll eat the whole can.  Look at the serving sizes and measure out the amounts accordingly, matching your desired caloric/ macro-nutrient amount.

Sandwiches:  Now I know they serve sandwiches most places, but believe me you don't want many of those  if you're on a strict diet.  I suggest using 100 calorie wheat flat-breads, which can be found at any grocery store.  Pile on some tuna, turkey, or chicken, some veggies (pack it full to make it satiating), use mustard instead of mayo, and if you really want some cheese opt for a more healthy option than the nasty old kraft American singles (as easy as they are to add to a sandwich).  I STRONGLY recommend adding a tomato slice or two, as they can make a HUGE difference in taste and density of a sandwich.

Leftovers:  Imagine your options, chicken breast with peas and spinach, turkey with corn and brown rice, tuna steak with asparagus and cauliflower, it's unlimited!  See what you've got in that fridge/freezer.  Measure it out and stick it in some tupperware, you can even label it if you wish.  You could pack meals for days.

Other things to bring?  Well, I've already mentioned raw fruits and veggies, but I'd also suggest hard-boiled eggs, low sugar/plain greek yogurt, and a good supply of water (or milk if you wish, though make sure it doesn't spoil.)

A trip or vacation, whether long or short, doesn't have to spoil a diet.  Just plan ahead.  Take meals with you!  It'll keep you on track and feeling great.  Don't be afraid to enjoy a little of the "native food," but pick your timing and your menu item carefully, and make great choices, because after all, you'll be the one living with them.

Pack smart, travel safely, and as always, good luck!