More and more people are looking to buy organic products for personal health and environmental reasons. At Nuts.com, we try to make it as easy as possible for you to find a wide selection of organic foods for cooking, baking or snacking.

Our facility is organically certified by the California Organic Farmers (CCOF) agency, and we meet all of the criteria set by the USDA to handle, package and sell organic nuts, seeds and dried fruits. That means you can chow down on our products and know they were grown with care and without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or genetically modified organisms.

3 Delicious Ways to Use Organic Nuts

These nuts are tasty straight out of the package, but you can also add them to your favorite recipes for an extra dose of health and flavor.

1. Organic Almonds

Transform a plain green salad into a Parisian bistro masterpiece. Toss mixed greens with organic almonds, organic cranberries and fresh goat cheese and sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice.

2. Organic Pecans

Spiced nuts make a healthy autumn snack ideal for campfires or tailgate parties. Place shelled, organic pecans in a skillet over medium heat and toast for five minutes. Add a few tablespoons of butter and stir until it melts. Sprinkle a mixture of your favorite spices — such as cinnamon, cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper — over the nuts, adding a few tablespoons of brown sugar and water to taste. Mix until the nuts are coated with the spices and sugar, separate them on a piece of parchment paper and serve when cooled.

3. Organic Cashews

Experiment with different nuts in your baking recipes. Instead of the same banana-walnut bread you usually make, substitute organic cashews for a different flavor. Cashews are also a delicious addition to brownies, pies and cookies.

What are your favorite ways to use organic nuts? Share your suggestions in the comments!

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The real question is: What can’t you bake with almond flour?

Almond flour, also called almond meal, is a low-carb, gluten-free baking alternative to standard wheat flour. Nearly everything you can bake with wheat flour, you can bake with almond flour. It has a flavorfully nutty taste that works well in both sweet and savory items.

Because almond flour is made of finely ground almonds and nothing more, you’ll find the same health benefits in the flour as in the almonds. Almond flour is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and sugar, which makes it appealing for customers on low-carb diets. Almonds have been associated with lower cholesterol and reduced risk of heart disease because of their monounsaturated fat and high levels of vitamin E. In addition, almond flour contains high amounts of calcium, iron, and dietary fiber, nutrients that people with gluten-free diets sometimes lack, as well as many other minerals.

Here are five of our favorite recipes that use almond flour:

Our Health Nut and Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, answers our customers’ most pressing health and nutrition questions!

If you’d like Molly to answer one of your questions in a future blog post, please email your question to health@nuts.com. If we feature your question in The Nutty Scoop, we will also send you a pound of your favorite Nuts.com product.

Q: I am a vegetarian who has celiac disease. Like a lot of people with celiac disease, I am very sensitive to soy, dairy, and nuts — sadly, all those things that can give me the protein I need to stay strong, keep healthy and have the energy for the workouts I love. I am a big fan of chia seeds, hulled hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, and I seem to be able to handle these in small amounts. Can you recommend any other easy-to-digest, high-protein foods that would be beneficial to me? For example, I have heard some people rave about maca powder, but am not sure how much protein it provides. – Diane

A: Focusing on adequate protein is definitely important, and it sounds like you are already including a lot of great foods in your diet! Regarding maca powder, 0.5 ounces of maca powder contains around 2 grams of protein, so this could help boost your intake, although maca powder is mostly known for its energy-boosting effects. Read more about maca.

When you’re looking for vegetarian protein sources that are not soy, dairy or nut based, here are a few foods to try!

Falafel

Falafel is a mixture of ground beans that are seasoned, and it can make a great quick snack or meal. This product is certified gluten-free, and just two ounces of the mix contains 12 grams of plant-based protein thanks to the mixture of beans, which includes fava beans and garbanzo beans. Try eating falafel on a sliced of gluten-free bread or pita topped with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes!

Beans

In general, beans are a great source of plant-based protein. For example, in 1.4 ounces of gluten-free cranberry beans, there are 8 grams of protein. Try making a cranberry bean salad with diced onion, pepper, and an olive oil and vinegar dressing. It would make a great side dish with meals, or a quick snack.

Nut Butters 

If you are sensitive to nuts for digestive reasons rather than because of an allergy, smooth nut butters like almond butter are often easier to digest and may be well tolerated. One ounce of nut butter (about a golf ball serving size) has around 5 grams of protein.

Spirulina

Spirulina, the blue-green algae, is protein packed and may be great for you to keep on hand and work into your eating routine. One ounce of spirulina contains 16 grams of protein (by weight, spirulina is about 55-77% protein), and this product is certified gluten-free! Consider adding a small amount to juices, smoothies or guacamole.

This recent Health Nut blog post on vegan nutrition may also be helpful!

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Fall is setting in, and nothing pairs better with crisp autumn weather and changing leaves than a cup of piping hot tea and a roaring fire. We have a wide selection of herbal and natural teas that are perfect for soothing a sore throat, unwinding after a busy day or getting ready for a restful night of sleep.

In addition to being delicious, many teas also offer health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, better digestion and improved cholesterol! Check out a few of our favorite selections.

4 Natural Teas to Try

Spearmint Tea

Both soothing and refreshing, caffeine-free spearmint tea is an excellent after-dinner drink or a natural remedy for a stomachache. Buy the tea ready to use or add dried spearmint leaves to your favorite tea for your own custom blend.

Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus plants grow in warm, tropical regions around the world, and their fresh, bright red flowers may remind you of your relaxing Hawaiian vacation. Hibiscus tea, made from the dried flowers of the plant, is equally rejuvenating. Studies have shown that it may be beneficial for people suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and its antioxidants may help reduce damage from free radicals.

Steep the petals in hot water and drink plain or add a little sugar, honey or cinnamon for extra sweetness. The flowers have a powerful flavor and can be used multiple times until the pink color begins to fade.

Sage Tea

Dried sage is often used in cooking, but it also makes a distinctive and aromatic tea. Steep the leaves in hot water, then add fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and sugar for a sweet and savory treat.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile has been a trusted home remedy for generations for everything from insomnia and anxiety to headaches and digestion problems. A hot cup of chamomile tea, mixed with a little honey and lemon, will lull you into a peaceful sleep at the end of a long day.

What are your favorite natural teas?

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Fall will officially be here soon, which means classrooms and workplaces are back in full swing after summer vacation. We’d like to share a pick-me-up that’s sure to brighten your school or work day: snack packs!

Snack packs contain the same product that you can buy by the pound, but they’re packaged in 12 smaller bags. For example, a snack pack box of organic trail mix contains 12 individually packaged 3.2 ounce bags. Best of all, you have 500 items to choose from!

Chocolates and Sweets

Nothing puts a smile on your face like knowing you have a sweet treat in your bag! Here are a few of our favorites:

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
• Chocolate Animal Crackers
• Gummy Bears

Dried Fruit

For a sweet energy booster that is full of fiber and nutrients, opt for a handful of dried fruit. Whether you’re in the mood for chewy or crunchy, you’ll find an item to quell your craving:

• Dried Bananas
• Dried Apricots
• Chocolate Covered Dried Fruit

Nuts

Packed with protein and a variety of vitamins and minerals, nuts are a healthy and satisfying snack:

• Roasted Soy Beans (Soynuts)
• Butter Toffee Cashews
• Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

Other Snacks

With a selection like this, you’ll never run out of snacks to try! From sweet to savory, and crumbly to crispy, you’ll find flavors and textures of all kinds:

• Oriental Mix
• Honey Pistachio Energy Squares
• Toasted Corn Nuts

Our Health Nut and Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, answers our customers’ most pressing health and nutrition questions!

If you’d like Molly to answer one of your questions in a future blog post, please email your question to health@nuts.com. If we feature your question in The Nutty Scoop, we will also send you a pound of your favorite Nuts.com product.

Q. My husband was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about 6 months ago. We have been struggling with an appropriate diet for him. Both of us love nuts and dried fruit (we eat a lot of fresh fruit also), but I haven’t seen much about nuts in the numerous diabetes books we’ve been reading. My question is how can nuts and dried fruit figure in his diet and specifically, could a handful of nuts and fruits, say walnuts and almonds plus some dried cherries or cranberries, serve as a high-protein snack for midmorning or midafternoon? – Daphne

A: Nuts can certainly fit into a balanced diabetic eating plan! In fact, the American Diabetes Association listed nuts and berries on its Top 10 List of Superfoods to be included in a diabetic diet.

Nuts are a great option for diabetics because they provide fiber, protein, and magnesium. Fiber and protein help slow the digestion of food in the body and will allow sugars to be released more slowly.  They also help to maximize nutrient absorption. Research has linked magnesium intake with lessening the risk for Type 2 diabetes.  Food sources of magnesium include: whole grains, leafy greens and nuts. Also, walnuts, which you mention, are rich in omega-3 fats that have been shown to help improve heart health.

The most important thing to remember when snacking on nuts is that it can be easy to eat more than one serving, which is one ounce or about a small handful.  Your best bet is to put the serving of nuts in a bowl and then snack out of that to keep your portion in check!

Pairing dried fruit with nuts is a perfect snacking option for diabetics (or anyone) because the fiber and protein from the nuts will help to slow the digestion and release of sugars from the dried fruit into the body. You may also want to consider freeze dried fruit, which only have 8 grams of carbohydrates per serving (traditional types of dried fruit have about 30 – 35 grams of carbohydrates per serving).

Here are some freeze dried fruit that you might enjoy:

• Organic Apple Chips 
• Simply Blueberries 
• Simply Strawberries
• Simply Cherries
• Simply Raspberries
• Simply Bananas

References:

Diabetes Superfoods. American Diabetic Association. Accessed on September 4, 2012.

Lopez-Ridaura, et al. Magnesium Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Men and Women. Diabetes Care. January 2004. Vol 27 No. 1 134-140.

Malasanos, et al. Biological Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care. December 1991. Vol 13. No. 12 1160-1179. 

Yesterday we celebrated National Peanut Day, but we aren’t ready to stop now! Let’s keep the party going into the weekend with some of our favorite peanutty treats.

Chocolate Peanuts

These tasty morsels let you be indulgent without the guilt. We cover freshly roasted peanuts in sugar-free chocolate for the perfect sweet-and-salty snack. Serve chocolate peanuts in a bowl as a game-day appetizer or sprinkle over ice cream or yogurt for dessert.

Peanut Butter Chips

Give your favorite cookies or brownies an extra kick of flavor with a generous helping of peanut butter chips instead of (or in addition to!) chocolate chips. They are also great in sundaes or smoothies, or simply plain by the handful.

Cajun Peanuts

Make sure your taste buds are awake with these Cajun-spiced roasted peanuts (watch out, they’re hot!). One bite will have you tapping your toes to a funky Zydeco beat.

Peanut Flour

This flour is gluten-free, high in protein and ideal for baking. Replace regular flour with peanut flour the next time you make chocolate cupcakes, and enjoy the subtle nutty flavor it adds.

Peanuts are delicious and bursting with nutritional value. They are a good source of antioxidants, which improve cardiovascular health, plus they also protect against risk of stroke, cancer, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.

Happy National Peanut Day to all!

What’s your favorite dish that includes peanuts? Share in the comments.

What’s not to love about hazelnuts? Hazelnuts (also called filberts) are often used in desserts and coffees because of their rich, distinctive flavor. Plus, they’re high in protein and fiber and low in fat!

When we learned that Frangelico was leading the charge to celebrate National Hazelnut Month for the first time this September, we put together a Heavenly Hazelnut Gift Basket full of our favorite hazelnutty goodies. Here’s what you’ll find in the basket:

• Raw hazelnuts
• Salted roasted hazelnuts
• In-the-shell hazelnuts
• Dark chocolate covered hazelnuts
• Raw Duchilly hazelnuts
• Chocolate butter crunch
• Hazelnut Supreme Coffee

Hazelnuts are chock-full of essential vitamins and minerals, like B vitamins, iron, and phosphorous. They’re also high in healthy polyunsaturated and mononunsaturated fats and contain oleic acid, which can raise levels of good cholesterol and lower levels of bad cholesterol.

There are simply so many ways to enjoy hazelnuts. Substitute hazelnut flour for wheat flour in scones and cookies. Drizzle your salad with hazelnut oil. Sprinkle chopped hazelnuts onto your cereal, yogurt, or ice cream!

Happy National Hazelnut Month, everyone! Join in the fun on Twitter with the hashtag #nationalhazelnutmonth.

Our Health Nut and Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, answers our customers’ most pressing health and nutrition questions!

If you’d like Molly to answer one of your questions in a future blog post, please email your question to health@nuts.com. If we feature your question in The Nutty Scoop, we will also send you a pound of your favorite Nuts.com product.

Q: I had heart attack about a year ago and my cardiologist has told me that I must eliminate salt from my diet. I really like nuts for all of their nutrition, and I was wondering whether there are any salt-free nuts that you’d recommend. I lean towards a vegetarian diet and am on a moderate weight loss program that includes a reasonable reduction in caloric intake and moderate exercise (using an exercise bike four to five times per week). – Michael 

A: Good news! Nuts.com offers many types of nuts (and other products, too!) with 0 milligrams of sodium (aka salt) that can help you stick to your no-salt diet, as prescribed by your cardiologist.

As you navigate around the Nuts.com website, look for nuts that have “roasted, no salt” or “raw” in the description. These varieties will typically have 0 milligrams of sodium. To double check the nutrition facts of the item before you order, scroll down to review the nutrition fact panel on the left-hand side of the product page.

You might also consider combining nuts with dried fruit, which goes great with nuts and often has 0 milligrams of sodium, too. After your bike rides, have a small handful of sodium-free nuts and a small handful of dried fruit to refuel your tired muscles.

Dried fruit with 0 milligrams of sodium:

• Simply Blueberries
• Dried Blueberries
• Whole Dried Cranberries
• Simply Organic Apples

Nuts with 0 milligrams of sodium:

• Roasted Almonds, no salt
• Raw Almonds
• Roasted Walnuts, no salt
• English Walnuts
• Roasted Cashews, no salt 
• Raw Cashews 
• Roasted Peanuts, no salt 
• Raw Peanuts

Healthy food doesn’t have to be bland in order to be good for you. On the contrary, adding dry spices to your cooking boosts flavor and tickles your taste buds without loading meals with extra salt, sugar or fat. Try these easy ways to perk up your palate!

Spice Rub or Marinade

Take advantage of the lingering warm days, and fire up the grill for ribs, steaks, chicken or pork. For a dry rub, mix 2 tbsp. dry rosemary, 1 tbsp. dry oregano, 1 tbsp. dry basil, 1 tbsp. dry sage and a dash of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice blend evenly into the meat and let sit 30 to 60 minutes before grilling. For a marinade perfect for meat or veggies, blend ⅓ cup olive oil, 3 tbsp. lemon juice or red wine vinegar, 1 tbsp. dry rosemary and two garlic cloves, finely chopped. Place the meat or vegetables in a shallow glass dish, spread with the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour before cooking.

Butter-Sage Pasta Sauce

Make your pasta taste just like Nonna’s by whipping up a simple sauce full of flavor. Cook a package of pasta until very al dente, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water before you drain it. In a saucepan over medium heat, place 2 tbsp. butter and a generous handful of dry sage. Cook until the butter is a nutty brown, then pour the cooked pasta into the sage-butter sauce and add ½ to ¾ cup of water to form a soupy mixture. Cook for another minute until some of the water has been absorbed. Mix in ½ cup to 1 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese, making a creamy sauce, Add more water if necessary, plus salt and pepper to taste.

Salad Dressing

Dry spices turn a blah salad into a delicious side dish. Instead of using a store-bought salad dressing, make your own in a snap by whisking together 1 cup olive oil, ½ cup white wine vinegar, 2 tbsp. dry basil, 1 tbsp. honey and 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard. Toss the dressing with your favorite salad.

What are your favorite ways to use dry spices?