Have a Love Affair with Bananas, Raw Almonds and Non Fat Milk

Winston - Good question.  Funny, but for me at this point in my training, it's ALL about results.  For a long time I did not really understand that you get out what you put in.  I am on a perpetual diet.  Most of the time, I'm pretty bored with the food selection but I focus solely on refueling and giving my body what it needs. I think about my workout the next day and disregard the monotany of the menu.  However, I definitely eat what I WANT on the weekends.  But I no longer enjoy "Junk" food.  I'm really good Mon-Fri.  Weekends are made for fun.!!

Nscrbug - I feel stupid saying this but I do not know the health benefits of Raw Almonds!  I have been hearing about them for years with countless references in Runners World Magazine.  I figured they were a staple item and jumped on the Raw Almond band wagon a few years ago.  Although I must admit, dry roasted are far more tasty!

PKKC - I will usually eat this at least one hour before my workout.  I would prefer 2 hours if I'm up that early.

Artemis- I'm sure other types of nuts provide positive health benefits, but I have read for years that Almonds pack the most punch and of healthy fats, proteins, antioxidants, Vitamin E, Potassium & Magnesium.  All good stuff our bodies needs every day.

Completely agree about the benefits of almonds.  Unfortunately, I am horribly allergic to them.  I was wondering if you'd run into any other really good nuts in your reading. 

Slightly different, but somewhat similar, I eat the exact same thing every morning after my workout - lowfat vanilla yogurt with raspberries and chopped raw almonds. I love this breakfast/snack and also eat it for dessert sometimes. I have a half serving of the yogurt, use frozen raspberries that I thaw while I workout and then have about 12 almonds chopped up. I never get bored of it and actually find myself looking forward to it.

Your banana mixture sounds so good, I'm going to try that next! 

Another slight variation (no idea on nutrient difference)

Bananas and almond milk* in the blender with ice-  Crazy good. throw some protein powder in (I like choc ) or PB, and, man oh man, it's dessert.

(*only bummer is it is expensive, but so are raw almonds-- buy in bulk, but not more than a week at a time, unless you store them really well) 

I always go for protein as quickly as I can after the workout.  I usually have a bottle of accelerade and a banana, lots of water.   Protein shakes are great, as I'm sure you've found.  I use a banana, fat free milk, fat free yogurt, peanut butter, a little honey and ice with vanilla powder.  It's almost too good to be true but a great recovery drink.

As far as roasted vs Raw; most people feel that raw is better.  Roasting changes the composition of the oils in the nuts.

Walnuts are supposed to have a really good Omega 3/ Omega 6 ratio.  Better than Almonds actually.

Sunflower seeds are good, pumpkin seeds are really good too.  I love to put these on salads.

Peanuts are supposed to be the worst.  Actually, peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes.

From what I've read, raw and roasted almonds are very similar and roasting does not affect the oils or good fats.  Roasting does, however, lower the amount of B vitamins.  Both are good for you but raw gives you the extra thiamin and pantothenic acid (B vitamins)

I eat raw almonds every day, love 'em

PKKC-  That's awesome!  Congrats!   I'm so happy my breakfast of champions is working well for you!  Keep up the good work! 

Sportyj - I love throwing some Almonds into the blender for protein shakes but maybe 1 out of 10 turn out just right.  Usually kind of gritty, like you said.

Have a great weekend!

Roasted v. Raw - the is enzymes.  The belief is that by cooking the foods, including nuts, we destroy the enzymes in them.

Here's a Wiki article (of course,  not the most authoritative source, but there isn't any real data that I can find.)

People swear by the raw food diet, but there's little research to support it.

If you are allergic to almonds, try cashews.

I make homemade cashew butter...YUMMMMMMY!  It goes great on sprouted bread!  Here's the recipe:  Cashew Butter just look down the page (it's actually Alton Brown's Cashew Sauce, but the butter recipe is on there too)

Happy eating!

ok. it took me a while but I had to find almonds I LIKED.

I had to go with the Jalepeno flavor blue diamonds. LOVE THOSE. (I hate plain almonds and just salted)

Today is the first day I tried "the breakfast of champions".

 I feel good, I'm not hungry and I'm ready to give it a go!!!

Point of clarification needed:

So eat the "breakfast of champions" before workout? And some type of protein or something after right?!