Go Nuts

Nuts are loaded with heart-healthy fats—omega-3s and unsaturated fats, which raise your good cholesterol levels—and yet they often get the cold shoulder as a party snack due to their high calorie count. Stick to a 100-calorie portion and you’ll still get their health-boosting benefits.

Pistachios (Simply Food Dry Roasted Jumbo Pistachios, shown) may reduce cholesterol, thanks to their high content of antioxidants, shows a study in The Journal of Nutrition. 100 calories = approx. 25 nuts

Almonds (Everyday Market Whole Natural Almonds, shown). A 100-calorie serving gives you 23 per cent of the daily value for vitamin E. This antioxidant repairs tears in the protective layer of your cells, according to a study in Nature Communications. 100 calories = approx. 14 nuts

Cashews (Simply Food Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar Jumbo, shown) are loaded with magnesium. A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a higher intake of this nutrient lowered the risk of stroke. 100 calories = approx. 7 nuts

Hazelnuts and chocolate (Ferrero Rocher, shown) may do more than satisfy your sweet tooth. Italian researchers tested a lab mix of cocoa, hazelnuts, fibre and sterols to find that it helped lower cholesterol and inflammation. 73 calories = 1 chocolate

Peanuts (Simply Food Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper Kettle Cooked Peanuts, shown) are a ubiquitous snack. We always see them at baseball games, on airplanes and in bars. They taste good and they do have some bragging rights. A study in Diabetes Care linked the regular consumption of unsalted nuts, including peanuts, to improving blood glucose control and cholesterol levels in diabetics when they reduced their intake of starches. But be sure your party guests aren’t allergic to peanuts before you serve any. 100 calories = approx. 17 nuts