We love to shake up our usual snack routine by including delicious dried fruits, as well as fruit and veggie chips. These treats are great on the go, making them wonderful for road trips, after-school treats or a quick afternoon pick-me-up at the office. Here are five of our favorite fruit and veggie snacks:

1) Banana Crisps: These super-crispy, thin-sliced banana chips are simply delicious! Banana crisps are fabulous in homemade granola, trail mix, cereal or yogurt, Of course, we’ve been known to eat them by the handful, as well!

2) Dried Strawberries: Dried strawberries are one of our best-selling varieties of dried fruit. Maybe it’s their sweet flavor or their berry-licious consistency, but either way, we can’t get enough of them, either! They’re the perfect alternative to candy or fruit snacks.

3) Dried Mango: In the wintertime, we long for a taste of something tropical. Dried mango certainly fits the bill! Our sunshiny-sweet dried mango is a vacation for your taste buds. Try some of this slightly chewy treat for a taste of the tropics.

4) Plantain Chips: In South America and Mexico, plantain chips are as popular as potato chips are in the United States. These crispy, crunchy chips are slightly sweet and slightly salty. We love to pair plantain chips with a ham sandwich or PB&J at lunchtime, and they’re also fantastic crumbled on top of salads. Watch out, because you won’t want to stop eating this amazing snack!

5) Veggie Chips: Of course, this list would never be complete without veggie chips. We love this quirky mix of green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and taro. Veggie chips pair well with just about any sandwich, soup, salad or dip, and we wouldn’t think of hitting the road without at least one container.

What are some of your favorite snacks?

Chia pudding is one of our favorite treats. It’s smooth, a little sweet and quite delicious! It also has the added bonus of being fantastic for you. Chia seeds are packed with nutrition, and they’ve been shown to aid weigh loss, help athletes stay hydrated, reduce blood pressure and help control blood sugar.

Chia pudding is quite simple to make and, because it’s not cooked, even raw food enthusiasts can enjoy this delicious dessert!

Start by pouring 2 tbsp. of chia seeds into a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup of vanilla almond milk or soy milk, 1 tbsp. of nut butter (such as raw smooth almond butter) and a handful of chopped strawberries or half of a mashed banana. Stir the ingredients to combine, then cover the bowl and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes, or until it has thickened. Serve it with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon or organic cacao powder. Delish!

We love to mix it up by adding nuts, dried fruit or sweeteners to this chia pudding recipe. A tablespoon or two of walnut pieces or chopped raw pistachios give the pudding a fantastic richness and crunch. Dried blueberries, organic sour cherries and jumbo golden raisins all pair well with the pudding’s texture and flavor. Organic maca powder, organic agave syrup and honey can give the pudding a little extra boost of sweetness that you might enjoy. A little experimentation definitely pays off with this recipe. Let your imagination run wild!

Do you make chia pudding? What are some of your secret ingredients?

February is National Fiber Focus Month, and we think it’s a great reminder to get more fiber in your diet. According to an article on MayoClinic.com, eating more dietary fiber can lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease, increase your overall digestive health and aid in weight loss. There are two types of dietary fiber: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Both are very beneficial, and both can be found in delicious products from Nuts.com!

Soluble fiber can help lower total blood cholesterol, reduce your blood pressure and help control your blood sugar levels. That’s great for everyone! Some delicious snacks and ingredients that contain a good amount of soluble fiber include whole grains such as steel cut oats, beans, figs, dried apples and dates.

Insoluble fiber helps get your digestive system moving, and promotes overall digestive health by supplying your system with roughage. Many whole grains and dried fruit also contain insoluble fiber. Some of our favorites include flax seed, organic high fiber hot cereal, barley and dried pears. These treats are tasty and healthy!

What are some of your favorite fiber-packed snacks? Have any special recipes or meal ideas that incorporate this important dietary component? We’d love to hear all about them!

Did you know Mardi Gras is Tuesday? We love to indulge in a slice or two of king cake this time of year! This nutty treat, which can be made a couple of different ways, is always delicious with a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea.

The most common type of king cake seen in the United States (at least where we’re at) resembles a cinnamon roll. It’s usually filled with a mixture of ground cinnamon, sugar and butter, although the filling can include yummy nuts, cream cheese, fruit or almond paste. Our favorite recipe, from allrecipes.com, is a breeze to make because you mix the dough in a bread machine! (A stand mixer equipped with a dough hook also works well.) The filling, a mixture of chopped pecans, ground cinnamon and sugar, is nutty and delicious. This recipe is definitely a winner.

Another (and, as some people might argue, more traditional) king cake variety is the galette des rois. This almond-flavored, cream-filled pastry is packed with goodness. All recipes include a custard center made with almond flour, and some also incorporate a layer of sweet raspberry jam or strawberry jam. This recipe from Chocolate and Zucchini is fantastic, and uses hazelnut flour as well as almond flour to get a nutty and delicious flavor in the almond cream. It might look like a little extra work, but you won’t regret making this delicious treat!

Do you and your family have any special Mardi Gras traditions?

Did you know that February is National Celebration of Chocolate Month? It’s true! Even though Valentine’s Day was yesterday, we still love to celebrate with our favorite chocolatey treats all month long. Sweet!

We love to stock up on yummy treats to share with our family and friends. Want to know some of our favorites?

1) Chocolate Covered Nuts: We’re nuts for chocolate covered nuts of all varieties! At Nuts.com, we have a huge selection of the best chocolate covered nuts available. Some of our favorites include chocolate covered almonds, chocolate covered cashews and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Many of our chocolate covered nuts are also available in sugar-free varieties, which make a great gift for those with dietary restrictions.

2) Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans: This is one treat that’s sure to perk you up as well as tickle your sweet tooth! With more than a dozen varieties of chocolate covered espresso beans from which to choose, there’s something for everyone. Chocolate covered espresso beans are the perfect gift for those who love coffee and chocolate!

3) Chocolate Bars: Think a candy bar can’t be fancy? Think again! Our stash of premium chocolate bars is fantastically delicious. Try a Chocolove Dark Chocolate Bar with Chilies and Cherries, a Godiva 85% Dark Chocolate Bar or a Wonka Scrumdiddlyuptious Chocolate Bar the next time you have a craving for something fabulous.

What are some of your favorite chocolate treats?

We love making homemade truffles, and Nuts.com’s premium ingredients makes it easy and fun to create these delicious, chocolatey treats. Whip up a batch for your loved ones this weekend! This recipe makes about 30 rich truffles, so if you have a houseful of chocolate enthusiasts, you may want to double or even triple it!

Start by beating 4 oz. of softened cream cheese with an electric mixer or wooden spoon until it’s smooth and fluffy. Add 1-1/2 cups of powdered sugar and set aside. Melt 1-1/2 cups of organic dark chocolate chips in a double boiler, and pour the melted chocolate into the cream cheese mixture. Add 1 tsp. of vanilla or a flavored liquor like amaretto or Grand Marnier, and stir to combine. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least two hours.

Scoop and form the refrigerated chocolate into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in the coating of your choice. Some of our favorites include organic strawberry powder, organic pomegranate powder and organic coconut. We also really enjoy truffles rolled in finely chopped, roasted almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans or walnuts. Choose your favorite or make a variety of truffles. You won’t be disappointed!

Refrigerated the truffles in an airtight container until it’s time to eat them. Remove them from the fridge about an hour before consuming them to allow them to come to room temperature. Enjoy!

Does your loved one lean more toward healthy fare? We think one of the best presents you can give your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day is the gift of heart health. Many sweet and delicious treats also promote cardiovascular health. Here are our top five favorites:

1) Almonds: This nutty treat is spectacularly healthy! Of the 14 total grams of fat in a serving of almonds, 64 percent is monounsaturated. This monounsaturated fat has been shown to lower cholesterol, according to an American Heart Association study. Sounds like a fabulous deal to us!

2) Walnuts: Walnuts are naturally cholesterol-free, and regular consumption of these nutritional powerhouses can lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as your total blood cholesterol.  The phytochemicals and antioxidants found in walnuts protect cells from free radical damage that could result from heart disease.

3) Dates: Dates for your date? Great idea! Dates are packed with potassium, a mineral that your body uses to maintain muscle contractions, including those that keep your heart beating strong. They’re also a fantastic source of fiber, which can help lower blood cholesterol. Plus, they’re virtually cholesterol-, fat- and sodium-free! Dates sure are great!

4)  Raisins: Think raisins are just for kids? No way! Raisins are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are great for snackers of all ages! New research has shown that you can lower your cholesterol naturally by including raisins in a Mediterranean-style diet.

5) Heart Healthy Mix: This special trail mix was designed with your heart in mind! We put together some of the best ingredients known to help control cholesterol in this delicious Heart Healthy Mix. Try it today for a tasty, healthy treat!

What are some of your favorite smart snacks for a healthy heart?

It’s almost Super Bowl Sunday, and we’re going nuts! One of the must-have items on our party menu is a big bowlful of homemade spicy almonds. They’re so delicious we can’t help but to eat them by the handful, but watch out! They sure do pack a punch.

Start by whisking together two egg whites, 2 tsp. of water and 2-4 tbsp. of your favorite hot sauce. We love  using sriracha for this recipe, but Tabasco, Crystal or even a spicy barbecue sauce works great. In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 cup of light brown sugar and a generous pinch of Nuts.com’s deliciously smokey BBQ seasoning.

Toss 2 lbs. of whole roasted almonds in the hot sauce mixture, then pour the sugar mixture into the bowl. Stir the almonds until they’re covered in a thick, syrupy coating.

Spread the coated almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet covered in wax paper. Bake the almonds at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour, or until they’re nice and toasty. Stir them every 15 to 20 minutes to keep them from burning. Allow the spicy almonds to cool, then serve.

Enjoy this delicious snack, and have a safe Super Bowl Sunday! May the best team win!

Love is in the air at Nuts.com! We’re so excited about Valentine’s Day this year that we’re already coming up with gift ideas for the special people in our lives. These treats make great surprises for significant others, family members and friends. Check out our Valentine’s Day gift guide for all of our favorites!

If your sweetie is a chocolate-lover, we have some wonderfully rich and delicious recommendations! Try a box of our giant gourmet dessert truffles, with flavors such as milk chocolate champagne, tiramisu and dark chocolate Grand Marnier. They are truly decadent! If a gift tin is more your style, try our Gourmet Chocolate Covered Trio or our Chocolate Supreme Tin. They each offer up pounds of our favorite chocolate treats, and they’re perfect for sharing!

Looking for something that’s a bit unique? Try our Aphrodisiac Mix! It’s loaded with dark chocolate covered strawberries, milk chocolate covered bananas, banana chips, dried papaya, raw almonds, tart dried cherries and regular dried strawberries. We also offer quirky conversation hearts. What Valentine’s Day celebration would be complete without a bag of this class treat?

We also offer a wide variety of Valentine’s Day gift baskets for loved ones near and far, and they’re all loaded with goodies! Try our Indulgent Valentine, our Sweetheart Box or our True Love Box for the special someone in your life.

What are your favorite treats to give your valentine?