To think dried fruit and nuts in moderation are healthy?

[sandrabedminster]

Something like this with just dried figs and walnuts. As long as you don't overdo your calories and snack on them and keep getting the sticky sugar on your teeth , healthy right?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTSy4XzqTi0

[Joolsy]

Haven't watched the clip but I would say it's fine in moderation. Maybe floss your teeth after though!

[HermioneJeanGranger]

Most things are fine in moderation.

[lougle]

No. One of those balls is 414 calories. That's a meal. So if you're having it as an afternoon snack, you could be misled to think it's a small snack and not realise that it's about a quarter of a day's calorie needs. It also has 30g fat (mostly saturated) and each ball has 30g sugar. So not healthy in the slightest.

[sandrabedminster]

Are you sure its 414 cals a ball?!

Sounds an awful lot. As does the saturated fat. I thought nuts were low in it?

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Nuts tend to be low in saturated fat in their natural form, so they aren't a terrible snack on their own. Making them into things like that ball changes it, though - as Lougle said, in terms of fat, sugar and calories, you may as well eat half a bar of galaxy.

[SmillasSenseOfSnow]

I sometimes put some dried fruit and nuts on my salads. They are a calorie bomb. Genuinely shockingly so. I don't eat them unless it's a tiny sprinkle to make something else more interesting - I would never eat them as THE snack anymore. So not worth it (unless you're trying to push your calories over the 3000 mark I guess - then they'd be great).

[WonkoTheSane42]

They look like the stuff my dad puts out on his bird table.

[cardibach]

If they are 414 calories, Anchor then that's the same as about one and a half bars of Galaxy not half a bar!

[Pinkheart5915]

Everything in moderation is fine.
I've always just eaten what I want in moderation and I feel good and healthy.

[curren]

Healthy for who?

'Healthy' doesn't mean anything really. If you are trying to lose weight, these snack probably aren't the best. But could be if it's worked in with all your other food.

If you are trying to put on weight or have a high calorie diet they may be better than eating loads of chocolate. But again it depends on what else you are eating.

What's healthy or good for you depends on so many factors.

It's not just calories that determine what's healthy What nutrients is it giving you? You are likely to get more good stuff out of a balanced meal compared with one of these.

[Whathaveilost]

The in,y time I tend th have these is when imona big mountain hike day and I don't want to stop for a meal. They are very good at providing energy as they are a very high calorie food.

[KindDogsTail]

It's the dried fruit that could be the problem. It looks like so little, but if you saw the fruit it comes from it is a large amount so there can be an awful lot of sugar in it.

Nuts are high in calories but from a very healthy form of oil and they are also full of protein. A snack of nuts can satiate hunger and not lead to sugar crashes and yet more hunger.

Some nuts and some whole fruit like a small apple or about six grapes or a tangerine makes for a less sugary snack.

If you have a lot of nuts in one go treat it as a meal.

[dizzytomato]

They are fine in moderation but then so are things like cakes, biscuits and even chocolate. One person's moderation may vary greatly from what is actually healthy.

The other thing you have to consider is that it is not about the calories alone. So if you go over your daily calorie limit on a banana and a handful of nuts, that is not the exact same thing as going over your calorie limit one a bar of galaxy. The galaxy is empty calories, it has no or little nutritional value. Most of the sugar will be processed compared with the natural sugars in fruit and nuts. Fruit and nuts will make you feel fuller quicker and for longer so you run less risk of overeating later. The nuts and fruit contain other ingredients which your body can use and has to process, which can contribute to weight loss.

I will say though that eating food as close to its natural form as possible is best. Eat raw fruit and a handfull of nuts rather than making nut balls.

[Whathaveilost]

I am sorry my post doesn't make sense!!

I was trying to say that the only time I have them is when I go on a long hike!!

[KindDogsTail]

I agree with this: I will say though that eating food as close to its natural form as possible is best. Eat raw fruit and a handful of nuts rather than making nut balls.

But on an occasional hike what you are having seems a delicious and easy to carry snack that's basically healthy!

[uniquehornsonly]

They're not 414 calories each; more like 200-210 calories each.

The linked recipe has 200g each of walnuts (~1300 cals) and dried figs (~500 cals), plus 5tbsp desiccated coconut (about 35g, ~230 cals). It makes 10 balls.

In moderation, they're fine (although not my cup of tea - too sweet). Hikers and mountain climbers use similar recipes to make their own energy-dense snacks to keep them going in the cold and rain.

As a treat or snack, I'd put them miles above processed junk food in terms of nutritional content, but below a couple of squares of high-quality dark chocolate in the enjoyment-per-calorie stakes

[MiddleClassProblem]

A cheese burger from McDonald's is 301 calories... Just saying

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

As a breakfast on the run on a busy day they look like a reasonable option.

[seoulsurvivor]

MiddleClassProblem yeah but nuts also contain a lot of protein and minerals, dried fruit has vitamins. If I ate that, I'd be full for a good while. A McDonalds cheeseburger, while delicious, just leaves me bloated.

[MiddleClassProblem]

One cheeseburger leaves you bloated? That's strange. Maybe you have some gastro problems. Also wouldn't be full on dried fruit and nuts but would get the runs. They are a nice snack or in a meal, love me some cooked cashews. Friend fruit can be high in sugar though, much more so than fresh.

The cheeseburger was just bants

[lougle]

You're right, horn, I imported the recipe to mfp and it substituted cups for tbsps of the coconut. Still, 220 is a lot for a snack.

[KindDogsTail]

Still, 220 is a lot for a snack

I disagree lougle if it is a high protein snack (preferably with some whole fruit rather than dried) that is extremely reasonable.

It could well either stop a person eating more later or stop them from getting an irresistible craving for a crisps/chocolates/cake sort of thing.

[lougle]

But that isn't high protein. It only has 4g of protein. A glass of milk has twice that much.

[manicinsomniac]

Yes; in the real world, dried fruit and nuts are healthy foods and should be eaten within recommended calorie limits as part of a balanced diet.

Nuts are a good source of healthy fat and protein.
Dried fruit is a good source of vitamins. Just as good as fresh fruit, excepyou have to be careful not to eat any more of it than you would if it sill had the ater in because it has of course become small and non filling (eg, I would never eat a whole punnet of apricots in a sitting but I would easily eat a small snack pack of whitworths dried apricots or similar.

Personally, I'm afraid of nuts because of the high calorie and fat count in relation to the tiny amount you get. But I'm aware that that's not a healthy attitude. I eat dried fruit every day because it's easier when eating on the go.

[JuxtapositionRecords]

Is that your video/blog op??