The Diet Solution Program: Focus on Food: Cashews

I have always loved cashews as a satisfying snack, especially around Christmas time when my Dad would keep bowls of cashews around the house. I would eat TONS and TONS of them. But, since I started exploring more with vegetarian cooking and non-cooking over the past two years, I have found that cashews are one of the most versatile foods. Read on for more info about cashews and gets lots of tips for how to include them in your diet.

Fun facts: Cashews grow on a fruit tree that is native to South America. Cashew fruit is actually made into a juice and is a popular drink in Brazil. Cashew trees were brought to coastal regions in India and Africa by the Portuguese explorers in the 16th century. In India, the cashew fruit is often extracted and fermented then reconstituted with water to make a liquor called “gongo.”

Nutritional kick: Cashews are a healthy source of monounsaturated fats which are great for your heart. Cashews are also high in antioxidants which reduce your risk of life-threatening diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Additionally, cashews are high in Magnesium which opens up your blood vessels, allowing more oxygen to get to your brain (therefore, improving brain function). Cashews are also packed with protein, fiber, and the feel-good amino acid tryptophan which is essential for positive mood, stress relief, and good sleep.

How to eat: You may only ever eat cashews as a snack, but they are so versatile to use in cooking. Cashews can be soaked and blended with water to make a “milk” that you can use in shakes or any recipe where you need milk. They are also very popular in raw and vegan food preparation where cashews are blended and used as a creamy (but healthy) base for rich sauces, desserts, and dipping sauces. Ground-up cashews are also commonly used in Indian cuisine. See my Chiocciole Alfredo recipe below where I soak and blend cashews as a base for a ridiculously good vegan alfredo sauce that will make any meat-eater swoon.

When you purchase cashews, spend the money to get raw and organic nuts which are safest and most potent in nutrition. You can store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh over longer periods of time.