NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Supercharge Your Active Lifestyle This Winter With the Portable, Power-Packed Almond

Almond Board of California Announces "Winter Warrior Almond Snacker" Sweepstakes to Encourage Men to Raise the Bar on Better Health

Whatever your favorite winter sport -- skiing, snowboarding, hockey, or something else -- it's important to keep your energy level up with nutritious food choices in order to feel good and perform well. It can be tough, however, to find a nutrient-dense snack that is portable, wholesome and delicious. This season, Almond Board of California is reminding "winter warriors" everywhere to snack smart with the crunchy, tasty almond. Perfect tucked away in the pocket of a ski jacket or sports bag, a handful of almonds is a convenient option for sustained energy on and off the snow and ice.

"For whatever sport you're into this winter, a handful of almonds is a tasty and fulfilling snack to have on hand when hunger calls," said Robert Yang, R.D., founder of The Performance Lab in Encinitas, California. "Snacking on almonds will keep you feeling satisfied and energized before and after an intense workout."

To encourage winter sports enthusiasts to up the ante on adventures, the Almond Board of California has announced the "Winter Warrior Almond Snacker" Sweepstakes. Eligible winter warriors can enter their name and contact information into a random online drawing with the possibility of winning fantastic prizes including a personal nutritional consultation with Robert Yang, a $500 gift card and five $100 gift cards for new winter gear from a leading sporting goods store, not to mention a one-year supply of almonds.

Snowboarding, skiing, skating -- what do these popular winter activities have in common? All three require a nourishing, healthy diet in order for athletes to maintain peak performance. The 3.5 grams of fiber in every ounce of almonds keeps afternoon hunger at bay, especially when combined with dried fruit in a homemade trail mix. Opting for a feel-good post-slope snack of seasoned almonds is a great option as well. Almonds are rich in vitamin E, a nutrient known for helping repair damaged tissues and cells, especially in winter weather-beaten skin.

In addition to vitamin E, California Almonds are an excellent source of magnesium and manganese, and a good source of fiber, copper, phosphorous and riboflavin. When compared ounce for ounce, almonds are the tree nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium, riboflavin and niacin.

Cholesterol-free almonds have long been known to have heart-smart benefits. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), "Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease."

What's more, almonds are part of the "good" fat gang, with 13 grams of unsaturated fat and only one gram of saturated fat per one-ounce serving. With so many nutrients contained in one tiny nut, be sure to keep almonds in mind the next time you're packing for an upcoming winter adventure.

To enter the "Winter Warrior Almond Snacker" Sweepstakes visit www.AlmondBoard.com/prosnacker and click on the Winter Sports tab. Be sure to check out nutrition tips, the latest almond research, and great almond snacking ideas and recipes perfect for the winter season.

About Almond Board of California
Consumers all over the world enjoy California Almonds as a natural, wholesome and quality food product, making almonds California's leading agricultural export in terms of value. The Almond Board of California promotes almonds through its research-based approach to all aspects of marketing, farming and production on behalf of the more than 6,000 California Almond growers and processors, many of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the
supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit AlmondBoard.com.