The almonds come in many different variations and types. Whether brown, blanched, sliced, leafy, or "burnt" at the Christmas market – almonds are truly versatile. The sweet, mild nuts have become popular everywhere.
But where do the almonds come from? Why are they so healthy? And how can you best incorporate almonds into your healthy breakfast ? Today we will show you 4 tips for a healthy breakfast with almonds. We will get to the bottom of these questions in today's blog post.
Where does the almond actually come from?
The almond tree is a rose plant and is well known for its pink flowers. The flowering of almond trees occurs annually between March and April. The almond tree originally comes from southwest Asia. The plant loves the Mediterranean climate and today you can find these magnificent trees in the USA, Australia, the Mediterranean, Iran, Pakistan, and China.
From about 4-5 years, almond trees bear almonds that can be harvested for the first time . Almonds require a dry and warm to hot climate in summer or mild winters. They can only withstand very light and short frost conditions and do not tolerate waterlogging. The soil on which almond trees thrive best must be humus-rich, permeable, loamy, sandy, and slightly calcareous – which is why you will find the largest almond plantations in the USA.
How are almonds processed?
The flowering of almonds lasts until autumn. Until then, the hairy, egg-shaped fruit of the almond tree emerges from the flower. This is where the almond kernel forms. Strictly speaking, the almond is not a nut but a kernel – but that's just a formality. As soon as it is time for harvest and the almond is ripe, the shell bursts open.
The almonds are harvested either by hand or by machine. Nowadays, they are harvested more mechanically, where they fall into safety nets.
How healthy are almonds really?
Almonds are full of nutrients because they are rich in protein and healthy fats. The fats consist of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fiber, vitamin E, vitamin B2, magnesium, and manganese are also found in these small nuts. However, a small part of the energy from the almonds is excreted by the body unused because the fiber content of almonds is very high.
In addition, almonds are very beneficial for the immune system and metabolism. The vitamin E in almonds serves as a pioneer here and protects the cells that contain healthy fats. Almonds also keep the skin young and curb the appetite. These natural satiators also lower cholesterol levels and help with type 2 diabetes . So almonds are more than worthy of the title of superfood!
4 tips for your healthy breakfast with almonds
1. Hot breakfast is healthy breakfast
We talk about it all the time: Hot breakfast is the key to success. The benefits of a warm meal in the morning have been discussed for a long time, and most people agree on this. A warm, healthy breakfast makes the start of the day even better! Traditional Chinese medicine also knows about the benefits of heated breakfast.
Your body doesn't have to bring the hot food to body temperature – it's already warm. Therefore, it requires less energy and aids digestion. Almonds are easy to incorporate into a hot breakfast – just add a few chopped or grated almonds to your meal, and you'll be consuming a serving of healthy fat.
Porridge is the perfect hot breakfast and has become a favorite among breakfast enthusiasts in recent years. The combination of very healthy oatmeal and almonds makes porridge something very special. Oats are known to be the regional superfood – so why not refine our delicious Verival porridge with almonds as a topping and enjoy a warm, healthy breakfast?
2. Almonds are the perfect topping
Almonds are not just healthy nuts . They make the perfect topping for every imaginable breakfast . In combination with porridge or cereal, they are a starter for your healthy breakfast. How many almonds are healthy for you is easy to answer.
A handful of almonds is enough! That's around 30 grams, which satisfies your daily requirements. If you eat a handful, you'll consume about 170 calories . So also healthy fats! The healthy fats in almonds – like olive oil – consist mainly of monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid) and to a lesser extent, polyunsaturated linoleic acid.
Here's a delicious healthy breakfast recipe with almonds:
Almond and raspberry crunchy muesli with coconut chips
Ingredients
- 150 g oatmeal
- 40 g agave syrup
- 25 g oil
- 50 g almonds
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 15 g coconut chips
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 30 g dried raspberries
Preparation
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Preheat the oven to 180°C (top/bottom heat). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix all ingredients except for the dried raspberries and coconut chips.
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Distribute the mixture evenly on the prepared baking tray. Bake in the hot oven for about 20 minutes, turning occasionally.
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Remove the crispy muesli from the oven and allow to cool completely. Carefully mix in the dried raspberries and coconut chips, then store the finished crispy cereal airtight in a cool, dry place.
Breakfast Recipe: Low Calorie Weight Loss Porridge (Sugar Free)
Ingredients
- 50 g oatmeal
- 1 pinch of salt
- 130 ml water
- To taste: Healthy toppings e.g. berries (such as blueberries), chia seeds, flax seeds, healthy oils, fresh fruits, or dried fruits (such as apricots or plums). Attention: dried fruits contain many calories.
Preparation
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Heat the water (for example, in a kettle).
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Put the oatmeal in a bowl with the pinch of salt.
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Pour the boiling water into the bowl.
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Stir the porridge well until it reaches a creamy consistency.
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Decorate it with your toppings.
Nutritional values
The health benefits that oats provide are incredible. Good for the heart, digestion, and blood circulation. Oats truly are almost a miracle cure! Oats also aid in weight loss, prevent diabetes and vascular disease, and simply taste incredibly good. We are big fans of our porridge and hope you become one too. 😉
3. Almond milk? Yes, please!
Many people suffer from lactose intolerance – maybe you do too! But if you still want to enjoy a "milky" breakfast, there are plenty of alternatives. There are now many alternatives to regular milk. It can be really delightful if you make almond milk yourself! And it's not that difficult. Almond milk not only tastes super delicious in cereals or granola, but also in coffee and porridge.
Here’s how you can easily make almond milk yourself:
Almond milk
Accessories
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Strainer or nut milk bag (alternatively, you can use a fine kitchen towel)
Ingredients
- 200 g almonds
- 1 tablespoon dates, agave syrup, or date syrup for sweetening
- 1 litre of water
- 1 pinch of salt
Preparation
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Soak the peeled almonds in a bowl of warm water.
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Leave the water-covered almonds overnight.
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Simply drain the water after soaking the next day.
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Then add the almonds with about twice as much fresh water and some sweetener to your high-performance blender. Also, add some salt to make your almond milk last longer.
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Afterward, strain the almond milk to remove any remaining pieces. The best way to do this is to use a nut milk bag, through which you can squeeze the nut milk over a bowl.
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Don't throw away the little pieces of almond left over! You can combine them with oatmeal, hazelnuts, and other ingredients of your choice to make a delicious porridge.
4. Overnight oats for late risers
We have already mentioned that oatmeal is our regional miracle cure. However, if you're on the lazy side in the morning and don’t want to prepare porridge directly in the kitchen, the Overnight Oats are the perfect solution.
Simply put oatmeal in the fridge the night before with water or milk and fresh fruit – in the morning, just take them out of the fridge, and they are ready to eat! Our tip: sprinkle almonds in any form on the soaked oatmeal in the morning. So nothing can stand in the way of your perfect start to the day!
