Planters Smoked Almonds (1.5 oz tube)

Item Purchased: Planters Smoked Almonds (1.5 oz tube)
Location Purchased: 7-Eleven / 1350 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.99 + tax

Review: The Hebrews thought of the almond as a symbol of watchfulness and promise due to it's early bloom. The Chinese view the almond as a symbol of sadness and female beauty. Early Christian paintings often contain an almond shape cradling the image of the virgin Mary and baby Jesus. They have been used as a preventative measure against alcohol intoxication.

For me, eating almonds isn't so much a religious experience (though I do find myself often intoxicated by Chinese female beauty...but that is beside the point.

I eat almonds for two reasons. They taste good and are good for you.

Almonds are supposed to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease if consumed on a regular basis. They are also a good source of nutritious protein. Unfortunately, when smoked and slathered with salt dust like the ones you find in these snack-size Planters bags, nearly all of the almond's health benefits are negated. But oooh, they taste good like this.

I try to eat raw almonds when available, but most convenience stores don't offer this choice. Convenience and health have always been opposed it seems.

So, until I get to my local health-food store where they charge and arm and a leg for naked almonds, these tasty sodium-filled alternatives will have to do.

Not that I'm complaining.

Rating: 4 / 5