Today is National Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds Day

Mmmm! I do enjoy dark chocolate and almonds, so a day to celebrate these delightful treats sounds like a good idea to me! Especially since dark chocolate is good for you and almonds are good for you . . . combining the two has to mean this sweet treat is actually good for us . . . right??!!!

I thought it would be fun to share some almond fun facts with you on this delicious day - so I looked on-line for some info to share! Did you know . . .

• Technically almonds are not a nut at all! Almonds are actually a seed of a flower and are botanically related to roses and orchids.
• Most every almond you buy in the United States is from California. When I lived in Californian I visited, "almond country" and learned those who harvest these treats call them, "amonds" - they do not pronounce the "l". They say when they harvest them they, "shake the 'l' out of them!"
• Almonds cannot self-pollinate and need bees, other insects, and the wind to help them do so. Without pollinators you would have no almonds at all!
• Since the outer hulls aren’t consumed by humans, they are instead used as part of cattle feed, so no part of the almond goes to waste.
• There are actually green almonds which look much like grapes. Green almonds are known as a delicacy and thought to be one of the finest foods to eat by other cultures.
• Per one-ounce serving, almonds are tied with cashews and pistachios at 160 calories. They also have more calcium than any other nut, plus nearly 9 grams of monounsaturated, heart-healthy fats, 6 grams of protein, and 3.5 grams of fiber per serving.
• There are 23 almonds in an ounce making it the perfect portion to crunch upon.
• Chocolate manufacturers currently use 40 percent of the world's almonds.
• Almonds are one of only two nuts mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 43:11) the other is the pistachio nut.

Did you know any of these almond fun facts? How about five reasons why chocolate is healthier than you think . . . 

• Experiments on rats have shown the fat in cocoa is actually less fattening than the fat in other fatty foods.
• Research shows cocoa works as an anti-inflammatory agent in humans.
• Consumption of cocoa thins the blood and improves circulation to the brain; it's thought to improve vision as a result.
• Dark chocolate, in particular, contains antioxidants which actually can improve the condition of your skin.
• Dark chocolate contains fiber and offers all of the health benefits fiber brings, including satisfying your appetite.

Share them . . . and some tasty dark chocolate covered almonds . . . with your grandchildren on this special day! Enjoy!

You will find out more about this tasty day at the following link.