There are many foods in the world that many of us have no clue about - what they really are, where they come from, and how to incorporate these foods into our meals. In this blog, Mechanic Dietitian Maggie provides us some nuggets about cashews. —Dina
Ahh the mighty cashew. So versatile, delicious and buttery, but how did they end up on my plate? Being mindful of our food and where it comes from is a great step in the right direction when it comes to intuitive eating and appreciating your food. So where do cashews come from anyway? We’ve got you covered. 🙌🏽
Cashews grow on the Cashew Tree in tropical climates like India, Brazil and Costa Rica. They are different from other tree nuts, in the sense that they grow as part of the large cashew fruit. The fruit grows on the tree, like an apple, but there is only one cashew nut that comes from every fruit! The fruit is harvested, dried, steamed and then cracked, before being baked and peeled and ready for consumption. Woah! That is not a simple process for one of our favorite nuts!
On a visit to Costa Rica I was able to hold the fruit, commonly known as the “cashew apple”, from the cashew tree. Can you spot the well-known nut at one end?
Cashews, which are nutrient dense, are great sources of protein, healthy unsaturated fats, magnesium and copper. For vegan followers, they are a staple as cashews can be transformed into a creamy yummy cheese, without any dairy! But more importantly, understanding where cashews come from is an important part of improving our relationship with food. No longer do we need to think of our food as perfectly packaged and bagged food ready for consumption thanks to Mrs. Whole Foods or Mr. Trader Joes. We know where our food comes and now we appreciate it that much more!
Have a question about where a certain food comes from or what the Nutrition Mechanic team thinks of a new trending food? Give us a shout, we’d love to answer your questions about food all day long!
Happy Eating!
Maggie