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Nuts of all varieties--organic and locally grown when possible, of course--are a healthy and earth-friendly dietary choice. But deciding what is and isn't a nut is less clear. If you asked your average Jane or Joe about nuts, they'd probably conjure up images of something small and crunchy covered in a hard shell. If you asked a botanist, they'd tell you "a nut is a type of fruit that consists of one seed covered with a dry, hard shell that does not split when the fruit is mature." Acorns and hazelnuts, for example, would pass the botanist true-nut test.
For the sake of simplicity, I'm gonna defy science and not drive you nuts (sorry) with botanical jargon. I'm also gonna resist all temptation to crack (sorry) any nut jokes. That means no Charlie Brown references and no open fire upon which a chestnut might roast. I'm even gonna do my best to keep it clean (see the bonus nut at the end if you don't believe me about clean). Yep, all that lies ahead is me telling you about a dozen nutritional powerhouses commonly referred to as nuts.
