About Our Guest Author: Hannah Meier, MS, RD, LDN is the Nutrition & Education Lead at 88 Acres, a food company based in Boston, MA, creating innovative seed-based foods from bars, to butters, and granola. In addition to managing nutrition-related inquiries for the 88 Acres team, Hannah focuses on building partnerships with dining services teams in educational (K-12 and higher ed) and healthcare sectors.
Pumpkin, Sunflower, Flax … even Watermelon Seeds are often overlooked as a source of “super” nutrition. Tiny but mighty, seeds pack a big nutritional punch for a small environmental footprint. What’s more, seeds are good for just about every body, support inclusivity and a strong food community.
Good for The Environment
Seeds promote sustainable agriculture and minimize food waste.
One study that averaged the water use of various crops found that pumpkins, squash, and watermelons require 20 to 90 times less water to grow than tree nuts. The water used to grow squash and melons produces both edible flesh and edible seeds, so it’s a two-for-one kind of deal. For tree nuts, the water is only really used to grow harvestable nuts. Peanuts use far less water than tree nuts because they actually grow below the ground, similar to potatoes.
Good for Every Body
Seeds contain all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants plants need to grow into flourishing crops. When we eat these seeds, we get all those hard working nutrients, too. Seeds are an unprocessed source of plant-based protein, complete with heart and brain-boosting healthy fats. It doesn’t get much simpler than that!
Click the links to learn about the benefits of Pumpkin, Watermelon, Sunflower and Flax seeds.
Good for our Community
Our favorite foods bring us back to beloved memories and cherished times. But what happens when you aren’t able to enjoy the food at the middle of the table, or the team meal, or movie theatre snacks, because you (or a friend or family member) have a food allergy?
Enjoying food should be free from the fear of an allergic reaction. For most people, seeds are not a common allergen and seed-based foods are a platform for delicious (and nutritious!) snacking and sharing.
Snack with Seeds
- Enjoy an 88 Acres bar at your desk or on the go.
- Spread Seed Butter on top of toast, oatmeal, or yogurt for a boost of protein in the AM
- Pair a Seed Butter pouch with fruit, veggies or crackers for a balanced snack.
Related:
Chia & Flaxseed Buttermilk Pancakes / Chili-Lime Pumpkin Seeds / Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding / Flax Seed Crusted Salmon
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