These roasted almonds are a great healthy snack for when you're craving something salty and crunchy.  Make them ahead of time, and portion them out into small containers so they'll be ready when you need them!

Almonds are a wonderful healthy snack - as long as you watch how many you eat!  They're packed with what are called "nutrient-dense calories."  This means that the calories you find in them are full of stuff that's really good for your body, especially compared to something like potato chips, that contain "empty calories" - which really don't have anything good for you. 

Almonds are an excellent source of protein, fiber, heart-healthy fat, vitamin E, calcium, and more!  They are the kind of food that will really hold you over between meals which makes them perfect for snacking!

When you reach for almonds or other nuts for a healthy snack, just stick with 1/4 cup or less to keep the portion in check. 

And while I keep going on about how healthy almonds and other nuts are, you might be thinking, "that's great, but potato chips taste better."  Well, have I got the fix for you!  People naturally crave things that are sweet or salty, and giving in to those cravings is what can cause trouble when it comes to managing weight.  So I'm always all about finding healthy substitutes for the foods we often crave. 

Instead of just eating plain raw almonds, roasting them gives them a whole new dimension of flavor, and adding some salt, herbs, and spice is a really good way to satisfy cravings for something salty. 

I used rosemary in this recipe, but if that's too strong or not your favorite, feel free to substitute other herbs, such as thyme, or even just use black pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, or cumin.  The flavor possibilities are endless! 

This is also really easy to make.  You just toss the almonds with the oil and seasonings, spread on a baking sheet, and bake until they're all toasty and delicious.  And they can be stored for a couple of weeks so you could make a large batch and have them on hand anytime!

Savory Roasted Almonds

Makes 4 servings (1/4 cup each)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw whole almonds
• 1 teaspoon canola oil or light olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
• pinch of ground red pepper, or to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until the almonds are completely coated.
3. Spread in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.  Bake for 15 minutes or until the almonds are toasted and dark golden in color. 
4. Cool completely and store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks. 

Happy Eating!

~Amber

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