Snacking healthy is good for you and the pecan nut is a great choice. You can incorporate pecans in a meal or snack or eat them separately. Pecans are low in calories, naturally free of sodium, tasty, crunchy, and a great source of protein for days when you don’t want to eat meat. Pecans are affordable and nutritious, so make them your choice of nuts to eat this spring. Start today and be on your road to health.
April is National Pecan Month, and you can participate by sharing pecans with your friends, family, classmates, and colleagues, or even place them in a trail mix for your ongoing fitness journey. According to the American Heart Association, eating nuts such as pecans can reduce your risk of heart damage and cancer and possibly lengthen your life. So consider buying a large bag of pecans to eat and share. Let’s get started today to celebrate National Pecan Month. Join me, and let’s start by cooking for ourselves!
1. Cook, bake, eat, repeat
There are so many recipes to which you can add pecans. Here are some of my favorites recipes.
Banana Bread Smoothie is great for breakfast or a snack-packed sip. All you need is a large handful of pecans, a couple of bananas and other ingredients for banana bread.
For an appealing appetizer, check out the Apple-Pear Salad from Southern Living Magazine. It’s packed with greens and lots of fresh and delicious, fresh fruit. Although the recipe called for bacon, you can ditch that to keep the salad healthy.
For a main course idea, consider chicken served with pecans mixed in sauteed greens.
2. Share fun facts on pecans everyday
Modern day technology makes it so easy to communication with our loved ones. Make the most of this month and dedicate your social media outlets and texts to pecan fun facts. Be creative in your foodie humor and description of your food cravings. If you are like me, you can even remind your family to make something with pecans the next time you come home. Have fun with your friends and try to visit a local organic market or a pecan farm if there is one near you. If you live in Texas and Georgia, where many LOVE pecan pie and sweets, you will likely find a lot of trees planted and blooming with pecans. For ideas, visit family websites and check out neat blogs with information such as this for your next event.
3. Go grocery shopping
Spring season calls for constant celebrations for upcoming graduation season and major tests preparation, so load up on pecans and pecan flavors. When you are in the frozen food aisle, put a few pints of buttered pecan ice cream in your cart for cheat days and quick spooning sessions when you take a study break in your place. Blue Bell is a popular flavor that is delicious for the Southern, comfort food vibe. Check the nut aisle and coffee bean aisle in grocery stores and see what they have in the way of pecans and buy by the pound. The challenge here is to try not to eat any until you’ve purchased them and used them in a recipe! Buy a nut cracker if you don’t have one, or take out your kitchen mixer and prepare to whip up some desserts like pecan pie!
I hope you find time this month to participate in the fun of National Pecan Month. You deserve to treat yourself!
