How Much Do You Know About Peanuts? Put Your Knowledge To The Test

Heart healthy peanuts

What do you know about peanuts? This can seem like a basic question. They’re tasty, right? They’re healthy, available in pretty much any grocery store and can be at home on a sandwich or in a bag of trail mix. But what about the nutritional benefits? How about where this amazing creation comes from and how peanut products have changed over the years? It doesn’t hurt to learn a little more about the food you come into contact with almost every day and the list below will shed some light on common to lesser-known facts.

Quick Facts

Peanuts are just about everywhere. Does that mean you know everything there is to know about them? Dr. George Washington Carver is often credited with creating peanut butter, a mainstay in many an American household, but the fact of the matter is rather different. He invented over 300 different uses for peanuts during his career, including hair products and massage oil, and actually had little to do with peanut butter. Peanut butter must be 90% peanuts or more by law. Lastly…the peanut vs groundnut debacle is a bit of a trick question.

Peanut vs Groundnut

Where do peanuts stand on the old-fashioned peanut vs groundnut debate? Let’s start with a lesser-known fact…peanuts are not actually a true nut. They’re what’s known as a legume (basically a seed in a pod), but for brevity’s sake they’re pushed into the nut family. Unlike walnuts, peanuts are grown above the ground rather than underground. Keep this knowledge tucked away next time the peanut vs groundnut debate crops up in polite company. You might find yourself turning heads.

Health Benefits

Peanuts are chock full of protein. This is especially useful if you’re on a vegan or vegetarian diet that has you eliminating meat and searching for alternatives that can keep you up to speed on all the nutrients needed for a healthy lifestyle. A mere ounce of raw peanuts has over seven grams of protein as well as a strong amount of dietary fiber, meaning you can get back that energy you thought only existed in chicken and pork. Peanuts also boast an impressive healthy cholesterol count and can work as an appetite suppressant.

Widespread Popularity

Who enjoys peanuts? Just about everybody. American residents eat over 700 million pounds of peanuts every year, with peanut purchases exceeding 65% of all nut purchases. That includes even popular staples like walnuts, cashews and pine nuts. Peanuts are very beloved in other parts of the world, with Thailand and Peru being some of the most notable examples on an already long list. When you consider peanuts can be enjoyed as they are or mixed into a variety of recipes, it stands to reason why they’d remain at the top of the food chain.

Usage In Popular Culture

What do you know about peanuts used in the mainstream? Probably more than you think. According to a study provided by Little Brownie Bakers, over 145,000 pounds of peanut butter are used during peak production periods to create some of the Girl’s Scouts most popular selections. One of America’s most iconic candy bars is the Pay Day, made out of peanuts and caramel, though it’s not the only treat that uses peanuts as part of the base.

Enjoying Everything Peanuts Have To Offer

Peanuts come in nearly every form you can think of. You can eat them raw and have a great snack to supplement your busy schedule. Organic peanut oil is perfect for the gluten intolerant, while the health benefits of peanuts can supplement any diet low on calories. Peanut butter benefits can also be rather interesting in their more creative uses, such as slapped onto celery sticks or used to trim down an overeager appetite. Thinking of reaching for a bag of peanuts?

How to Find Authentic Mexican Food in Your City

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Everyone should have authentic tasting Mexican food, at least one time in their lives. It is likely that there are many Mexican restaurants in your local area. However, it is also likely that many of them are not authentic and the menu items actually have very little to do with Mexican food. How can you experience the authentic taste of Mexican food?

Travel to a different area

Traveling is one of the best ways to expand your Mexican restaurant experiences. Of course, you could travel to Mexico and have a real authentic taste of the Mexican food options. However, if traveling outside of the country is not an option for you, you will find that there are many high quality Mexican restaurants in the country that are close to the real thing. You will simply have to do a little research to find the best Mexican restaurants. Traveling more south and closer to the borders will give you the best options.

Look up local Mexican restaurant reviews

Even if you live in the northern most part of the United States, you probably have a few Mexican catering options. As of 2011, there are 38,000 Mexican restaurants dispersed across the American landscape. You can usually get a good idea of the foods that a Mexican restaurant serves by looking up local reviews. Pay attention to the factors that are most important to you including the cost, the taste, and how authentic the food is. Customers enjoy rating local restaurants and you can get a lot of valuable feedback about how authentic a restaurant is, based on these reviews.

Choose a Mexican restaurant based on food preferences

There are many different types of Mexican food. You might even find that you do not prefer what is considered to be authentic Mexican. Try out a couple of different restaurants to learn what your Mexican preferences are. You might prefer the fast casual restaurant Mexican option. This is a little different than the traditional restaurant setting. Instead of immediately sitting and waiting for a server to take your order, you go through a cafeteria like line and select the specific toppings you want. This is a great way to try new Mexican food dishes and to make substitutions for food items that you do not enjoy. Keep track of these food preferences and you will find it easier to choose a local Mexican restaurant.

Follow your favorite Mexican chefs

Authentic Mexican food usually comes from Mexican chefs. If a local Mexican restaurant is opened by a local with no ties to Mexico, you can guess that it is not going to serve authentic Mexican food. A lot of the restaurants today that claims to be Mexican actually have little to no ties to the Mexican culture. One out of every 10 restaurants in the U.S. sells Mexican food, making it the most popular style of international cuisine in the country. However, if you follow your favorite Mexican chefs, you can be the first to know about real Mexican restaurants opening in your area. Follow these chefs on social media, TV, and news publications.

Make your own Mexican food

If you are finding it difficult to locate authentic Mexican food in your area, consider making it yourself. With a little research and high quality ingredients, you can make a Mexican meal that is more authentic than the local Mexican restaurant. Approximately 71.08% of American households use Mexican food and ingredients anyway. Look up Mexican recipes and choose ones that appeal the most to you.

There are many restaurants that claim to serve authentic Mexican food. Yet, if you have ever been to Mexico or had a real Mexican meal, you know this is not the case. You can usually judge the authenticity of a Mexican restaurant based on their knowledge, reviews, and the chef. Make your own preference decisions and find the best Mexican restaurants in your city. If your search does not produce any good results, consider making your own Mexican inspired meals.