A High-Calorie Snack That’s OK for Your Waist

[BocaLady]

If you love nuts as much as a backyard squirrel does, but you're caught up by your calorie-counting conscience, relax. And read on . . .

Peanuts may be one high-calorie treat that doesn’t do serious damage to your weight or your waistline.

Say Hi to Mr. Peanut...
In a recent small study where people were given a daily snack of peanuts, researchers were surprised to find that no one’s weight changed significantly after many weeks, despite the extra calories. Why? Seems peanuts fill you up (thanks to the fiber, protein, and healthy monounsaturated fats) but don't necessarily fatten you up, because the fat and calories in the nuts aren't completely absorbed by your gut. Now, if only Girl Scout cookies worked the same way.

Lost in Digestion...
More good news about peanuts: We may burn off the fats in them better than we burn off the fats in potato chips or cookies. Our bodies break down the monounsaturated fats in peanuts and convert them into energy more easily than saturated fats.

So go ahead -- unleash your inner squirrel. Just limit your daily dips in the peanut dish to 1-ounce servings (about 30 peanuts). They’re not made of air, after all.

[BocaLady]

Well, you're allowed 30 peanuts, but it is a good idea to put them in a snack size baggie, so you make sure that's all you eat.

Have a nice evening. - Irene

[Ron Kruger]

How does peanut butter figure into this?

[BocaLady]

I love peanut butter, and occasionally for breakfast I'll spread about 1 Tbs. (100 calories) of peanut butter on a toasted English muffin and make a milk shake that consists of 8 oz. of fat free milk and a small sliced ripe banana. If I have ripe strawberries on hand, I'll cut them up and add them to the mixture. I make it with my Cuisinart electric hand mixer.
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