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For those of you attempting to do the Paleo diet the "right" way, here is a good resource that explains which foods qualify as Paleo. They have an app too.
What is Almond Butter?
Almond butter, otherwise known as heaven on a spoon, is simply a paste made from ground almonds. Often times, the almonds are roasted first and then blended with a little sea salt to produce the creamy or chunky paste we know as almond butter. Spread on apple slices, used in sauces, or eaten straight from the jar, this stuff is dangerously delicious.
Almond butter can easily be made at home with a food processor or high-powered blender. All you do is throw in some almonds – raw or toasted – and sea salt, then blend until a smooth and creamy paste forms. Once done, pour it into a jar and store in the fridge. It’s that simple.
Is Almond Butter Paleo?
There’s no question that almond butter is paleo, but when purchased from the store, watch out for hidden sugars. It’s not unusual to find evaporated cane juice in the list of ingredients. Also, if possible, opt for raw varieties because heating nuts and seeds causes oxidation, as you may recall from the tahini post.
Additionally, watch your consumption because like other nuts and seeds, almonds contain anti-nutrients and higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids. Sure, a little bit each day won’t hurt you, but that’s not the whole picture here. It’s easy to go overboard with almond butter and it has a tendency to be addictive. One spoonful leads to another, which leads to another, and so on and so forth. As Mark Sisson says, “[Nuts] are often too available, too plentiful, and way too easy to consume in excess. What drew our ancestors to nuts – the caloric density and the fat content – is what makes them “dangerous” to modern man.”
On the plus side, almonds and therefore, almond butter are rich in magnesium, vitamin E, calcium and potassium, but remember to take it easy and consume in moderation!
What drew our ancestors to nuts – the caloric density and the fat content – is what makes them “dangerous” to modern man.”
So why is that dangerous? It's pretty tough to get fat on a paleo diet. One would really have to work at it.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I have to laugh when i am told to be careful about eating so much meat, the drippings, and nuts. When i question all the processed crap that people eat i usually get a confused look. Most tend to disbelieve that my diet is actually as limited as i say. Its not worth even trying to explain to some people. I should be more careful with nuts just because i am still having D and it most likely isnt very friendly on the guts. They are hard to resist because they make me feel like i actually ate something.
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
I'm planning on bringing a couple of jars of almond butter and GF crackers on my vacation. I've been assured GF food will be available but I am a skeptic, especially with language issues. I am limited to one duffle-type bag and also plan on bringing Lara bars. Who needs clothes? ;-).
Thanks for the common sense response to the criticism of almond butter, Tex. I'll probably lose a lot of weight, always happens on vacation.
Sheila W
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
Hi Donna, Are you wondering about the comment, "who needs clothes"?
I'm not going to a nudist colony. LOL
I'm going to the Galápagos Islands, cruising on the Santa Cruz, 80 passengers and a chef who understands GF, or so I was told. Then I'm going up into the cloud forest in Ecuador to a place called Tandayapa Lodge. It's a fabulous location for birding and has the distinction of being located exactly on the Equator. One half of the deck is in N. America and the other side is in S. America. I think the altitude is 9,000+ ft. I'll be flying in and of Quito but won't have much time in the city.
I'm working on my bucket list. Gotta start before anything else falls apart.
Sheila W
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
Sounds like an amazing vacation! You will have to let us know all about it when you get home. I was wondering if you are flying with a duffle bag how you would take almond butter, but figure you must be checking your bag. I just got back from France and took mini loaves of almond bread with me which worked quite well, as I was able to get through customs with the food.
Donna, I'm curious. How did you get through customs and our own security checkers with loaves of bread? I thought about putting paleo muffins in my carry on but wasn't sure if it was allowed. How long did the almond bread stay fresh? I'm traveling alone and have to keep my luggage down to a minimum. The duffel has wheels and could probably hold a small child without a problem. I am so looking forward to this trip. Neither one of my late husbands wanted to go to the Galapagos and we always compromised and went where he wanted to go. :-) I'm leaving 9/3 and will give a report when I get back.
Sheila W
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
I took 26 mini loaves of almond bread as follows: I carried some in my purse, some in my carry-on bag, and checked most of it in my luggage. I put a cooler with ice packs and bread in my checked bag. I divided it up to decrease the risk of loosing it all. My checked bag was inspected going into France, but nothing was taken out, and my other bags went through the screening security without any questions.
Maybe I was lucky, but it worked. When I got to France I kept my bread frozen, as we rented cottages with kitchens. I think it would last a number of days without refrigeration, but that is something you could experiment with before you go. When I came back I put some loaves in my carry-on, and once again made it through security, those loaves were without refrigeration for several days, and were still good.
My almond bread was basic with no fruit or nuts, as they do not want you bring fruit, nuts, dairy products or meats into another country. So I'm not sure if the ingredients in your muffins would cause any problems.
Based on my experience, I would try taking the paleo muffins. What do you have to loose, only your muffins!
I decided on the mini loaves rather that muffins because they pack better and are not as fragile.
Thanks, Donna. I am allowed one duffle for the cruise. The Santa Cruz is not a large boat and storage is limited. I can handle the duffle and a carryon. I have a spinal fusion and can't lift anything too heavy and don't want to injure myself before the trip begins. I think I will make a few loaves of almond bread and test for longevity. I know I will probably not get enough to eat and that's okay. I'm not bringing any dressy clothes so I can probably fit a few loaves of bread as well as almond butter, crackers, lara bars and some organic raw biscotti. They aren't really biscotti, nut and fruit leather is a better description. One large one got me through a full day of travel without feeling hungry. Didn't get sick either. Thanks for the great input.
Sheila W
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
Your nut and fruit leather sounds good, I need something like that for my long bike rides, is the recipe available in Dee's recipes? I found with the almond bread, each loaf has about 700 calories, so it helped with hunger and to keep my calories up.
