Looking for a smart snack? Almonds contain calcium and magnesium for strong bones and monounsaturated fat for a healthy heart. High in protein, these tasty little treats also provide vitamin E, potassium, and iron. Almonds are extremely versatile -- you can eat them plain or use them in recipes to replace dairy and enhance flavors, as displayed in this Spanish Gratin Potato recipe. Almond milk is a terrific dairy-alternative as well!

Ingredients:

2 lbs. potatoes, boiled*
salt and pepper (to taste)
2 pinches saffron
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. paprika
1 slice bread, torn into pieces
1/2 cup almonds, chopped (preferably blanched)
2 cups boiling vegetable stock or water
1 Tbs. parsley, chopped

* don't peel for higher fiber and minerals

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F while cutting the potatoes in quarters or slices.
2. Oil baking dish; arrange potatoes in a single layer; season with salt, pepper, and saffron.
3. In the frying pan, heat oil over medium heat, add bread, almonds, and garlic, and sauté until golden; process in food processor with paprika and a bit of the stock until smooth.
4. Sprinkle mixture over potatoes and then pour remaining stock on top.
5. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, gently stir and continue baking, uncovered and bake for 20-30 minutes, until liquid is gone and potatoes are cooked.
6. Place under broiler for a moment until brown, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

For this and other great veg recipes, visit www.TheVeggieTable.com!

Get your day off to a better start! Nature's Path Optimum ReBound cereal can provide you with the energy and nutrients required for a balanced morning meal. With zero grams of trans fats, 10 grams of protein per serving and high fiber, this delicious cereal is a blend of organic bananas, almonds, flaxseeds and whole foods… an ideal way to being your day!

Nature’s Path also makes a variety of products, including cereal bars, hot cereals, waffles, breads, pasta and baking mixes. An environmentally sustainable, socially responsible company, Nature’s Path organic foods contain no preservatives or additives.

For information, visit www.NaturesPath.com!

New research indicates that almonds can help stabilize blood sugar levels after a meal while promoting a healthy heart. Previous studies have concluded that almonds contain a variety of important nutrients and reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol. The current study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, found that eating almonds can prevent a blood sugar spike after a carbohydrate-rich meal.

Refined carbohydrates such as white bread -- a popular staple of the American diet -- can significantly raise blood sugar levels in the body, which in turn releases harmful free radicals in the bloodstream. This can cause damage to cells, which is involved in the development of heart disease and diabetes. Heart disease is the world's the number one cause of death, and high blood glucose causes three million deaths worldwide annually.

To read the full article, click here!

Tammy Lee and Chris James have been a prominent voice for the animals in San Francisco. Together, they are co-founders of the Bay Area Vegetarians, an organization for vegans and vegetarians to find community and support with like-minded people. Through events, activities, and online resources, they provide encouragement and support for those in their community.

After maintaining blogs on the BAVeg website, they decided to branch out and follow advancing technology through podcasting! The goal of their podcast is to share their experiences of being vegan activists in a meat-eating world: what works for them when doing outreach, what obstacles to overcome, things that didn’t quite work or ideas they need help with. They carry their podcast on the road with them and record whatever is happening around them, from presentations at their Compassionate Living workshop to interviewing other activists, to just sharing thoughts and perspectives.

To learn more about and listen to the podcast, visit www.GenerationV.org!

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