Celebrate togetherness with Almonds on International Day of Families

International Day of Families, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly, provides an opportunity to build awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families . The concept of a family for us is that of the most basic model of life wherein the members are joined by bonds of love and care and help each other meet emotional and physical needs. However, today’s fast-paced life leaves us with little time to spend with our family and loved ones, making it all the more important to prioritize our family’s health and wellness when we are together.

Taking care of your family’s health may not necessarily be as time-consuming as it may seem. Incorporating small changes in your life can make a big difference over the long term. Adopting healthy eating habits, working out regularly and providing opportunities for your loved ones to be physically active will help you and your family maintain a healthier life.

Adding almonds to your routine is a healthy eating habit that is easy to adopt as a family. Just having a handful a day is an easy way to boost essential nutrients and help your loved ones get the energy they need.

Bangalore-based Nutritionist Sheela Krishnaswamy shares some interesting tips on incorporating almonds as a part of your family’s daily diet:

Start your day with almonds: As they say, “moms know best” – For generations, Indian mothers have been known to include almonds in the daily diet of their children and family. This is because almonds are known to be a natural source of many important nutrients, including protein and healthy fats, making them a nutrient-rich snack. Hence, continue to combine the best of tradition and health by beginning your day with a handful of almonds. In fact, make your family’s morning intake of almonds a daily habit as a handful of almonds (30 grams/ 23 almonds) gives you and your family the power to take on the day.

Portable Nutrition for your family: Today’s fast-paced life leaves us with barely any time to plan a healthy diet for us and for our family members. Hence, encouraging your family member to eat healthy in some way, is the need of the hour. This can be done simply by packing a nutritious snack one can eat, whether at home, work or on the go. A handful (30 grams/23 almonds) of almonds can be that convenient snack which can be eaten anywhere, any time of the day and through the year. They are fuss-free and can be carried around easily. So, keep some almonds handy in a small box so you will always have your perfect daily portion. You can also pair them with fruits, or include them in other snacks, while giving them to your family.

Enrich your family’s snack time with almonds: Evening tea break is the time where all the family members are at home and enjoy a good snack break together. You can take that family snack time, up a notch, by substituting unwholesome and oily snacks with almonds. These nuts are easy and quick to flavour and go with just about any masala/spices. Whip up some flavoured almonds to give your family as a snack or serve them plain almonds.

Almonds for heart health, Weight and Diabetes Management: These nuts have benefits that can help take care of your entire family:
• Almonds may lower total and LDL cholesterol when included in a healthy diet and reduce levels of heart damaging inflammation .
• A handful of these nuts may have satiating properties that promote feelings of fullness, which may keep hunger at bay between meals .
• Almonds can also help lower the blood sugar impact of carbohydrate foods that they are eaten with, which affects fasting insulin levels .

Most of us are busy with jobs, children, managing the house and other things that take priority in our lives. Hence, it is really easy to lose sight of your family’s health and wellbeing in the midst of your busy days. On International Day of Families, make a promise to yourself to take care of your family and yourself and see how it makes a positive difference in your life.