Almonds. No, I’m not nuts. I’ve spent practically my entire adult life understanding and practicing good nutrition. Which is why, of course, our Italian Beef is so good for you. But if you’re looking for a quick, healthy snack, few foods deliver like almonds.

Now I know what you might be thinking. Almonds are high in fat! I’ll get fat! That’s false. Nuts in general have gotten a bad rap due to their high fat content. However, studies, including the Nurses’ Health Study and the Physicians’ Follow-up Study showed those who ate the most nuts tended to have lower body mass indexes. Although almonds are high in fat and calories, eating them in moderation can actually help with weight loss.

Further, almonds contain high levels of monounsaturated fat, which is the good fat (yes, there is such a thing). A handful of almonds a day helps reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL, or ‘bad’ blood cholesterol by as much as 10%.

Almonds are also chock full of protein, and contain virtually no carbohydrates. They’re easily digested and contain essential fatty acids, fiber, calcium, and many beneficial vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, an antioxidant that has been theorized to reduce the risk of heart disease.

If that isn’t enough almonds are also rich in omega-6 fatty acids that play an important role in both brain and heart function. Their skins alone contain as many as 20 antioxidant flavonoids that may favorably impact the body’s immune system as well as reduce the effects of aging.

I could go on. But I’ll stop with this: For a delicious, healthy, convenient meal, eat Papa Charlie’s Italian Beef with vegetables. For a delicious, healthy, convenient snack, eat a handful of almonds.

You’ll live longer, healthier, and happier. Maybe that’s not such a nutty idea after all.

We all know you can lose weight by watching what and how much you eat.

But did you know you can also lose weight by adjusting when you eat?

As President of Papa Charlie’s, and a self-proclaimed health fanatic, I spend a great deal of time reviewing diet and exercise research to determine what really works and which are fads that will prove harmful in the long run. This is one reason why our Papa Charlie’s Italian Beef is made with real roast beef and is high in protein while being low in fat. Look at the side of the packaging. You won’t see polysyllabic ingredients made in a lab somewhere. We sell a product that’s good for you. Not to mention it’s delicious.

To lose weight, you’ve probably heard time and again to eat lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Sure there are variations on this, but in general, to sustain good health you need a combination of all three macronutrients.

Now here’s the interesting part, for me at least. Serious and professional athletes have long understood the importance and benefits derived from nutrient timing – what and when you eat.

If you exercise, it’s important to eat the right combination of protein and carbs just before, even during, and just after your workout. Here’s a good summary of the research done at the University of Texas (and many others) about your workout diet.

The research also shows what you eat in the evening, for dinner or a late-night snack, can affect what your body does with the calories. I’ll spare you the science explanation, and just tell you the conclusions. Individuals in the studies actually lost weight by eliminating carbohydrates, especially sugar, from their diets in the evening, assuming they consumed adequate amounts of correct carbohydrates earlier in the day. Everything else being equal, those who ate meals and snacks consisting of mostly protein and a blend of good fats dropped the pounds better than those who ate carbs of any kind at night. So for dinner, believe it or not, drop the potatoes and pasta, and load up on the beef.

Will this work for you? Unfortunately, the body is too complex to guarantee it for everyone, but give it a try. I’ll bet you $3.00 off your next purchase of Papa Charlie’s that you’ll lose weight.

Did you know some foods make you dumb? It’s true. In a recent study by Oxford University (the one in England), rats fed a high-fat diet show a stark reduction in their physical endurance and a decline in their cognitive ability after just nine days.

According to the research, rats that ate the human equivalent of a junk-food diet not only were slower but also made mistakes sooner in a maze task, suggesting that their cognitive abilities were also being affected by their diet. The number of correct decisions before making a mistake dropped from over six to an average of 5 to 5.5. And the negative impact was almost immediate.

So think about that next time you grab a greasy burger and fries from a drive-thru window before a big test or job interview.

By optimizing diets appropriately – like eating lean Italian Beef sandwiches from Papa Charlie’s and staying away from greasy burgers – you’re able to increase your endurance and improve your ability to think.

Now that’s some smart food for thought.