4 Reasons to Keep Nori in the Pantry You probably know nori best as the paper-like dark green wrapping that keeps pieces of sushi neatly -- and deliciously! Crisp sheets of this mild grassy-tasting seaweed last forever in the pantry and can come in handy when you just need "a little something extra" to perk up a weeknight meal. Nori is made by shredding edible seaweed and then pressing it into thin sheets -- much like the process for making paper. You can find packages of it at any Asian grocery store, Whole Foods, and more and more frequently these days, regular grocery stores. Nori that is sold as "plain" or "toasted" is the most versatile sort for our cooking purposes.Packaged in an airtight container or zip-top bags, nori will keep for quite some time in the pantry. If they start to lose their crispness, you can re-toast them (carefully!) over the flame on a gas stove.Once you've gotten your hands on some nori, here are our favorite ways to use nori in the kitchen:Homemade Sushi: Yes!

Sushi is actually very easy to make at home, as this guide showing How to Make Maki Sushi will show you. Korean gimbap is great for a non-fishy version. And if you're not up for all the rolling, making hand rolls is an even easier way to get your sushi fix.Crispy Nori Snacks: Crisp those sheets of nori a little more, and by golly, you have yourself some nori chips! We like to lacquer a few sheets of nori together for a sturdier crisp, as with these Wasabi-Toasted Nori Crisps.Furikake Seasoning: This blend of nori and sesame seeds makes a simple rice dish taste like it came straight from a restaurant kitchen. It's easy to make yourself at home.Soup and Rice Bowl Topper: Add a little extra crunch to your next bowl of soup or rice. Slice nori into thin ribbons and sprinkle away. Also try using it over omelets, baked fish, salads, steamed vegetables, and anywhere where you might like nori's crisp texture.What other ways do you like to use nori?Related: The Essential Sushi Guide(Image: jreika/Shutterstock)

There are few things more frustrating than learning that a food that seems healthy actually isn't. (Soul-crushing spoiler alert: Your lattes and green juices fall under this category.) And yet, this seems to happen more often than not with our favorite tasty treats—we nosh away, thinking, FINALLY! Something munchy and guilt free that doesn't taste like lawn, only to learn later that yes, it really was too good to be true. It's for this reason that we were a bit wary to investigate the actual nutritional profile of seaweed snacks, our favorite afternoon fix of late.Even if you haven't tried seaweed snacks, it's likely you've seen them before. Touted as a healthier alternative to chips, they're just sheets of dried and roasted seaweed that come with a variety of seasonings and are packaged like crackers. If the thought of eating seaweed when it doesn't surround a sushi roll skeeves you out, don't let it—these are delicious, savory, not at all fishy, and downright addicting. 

And much to our happiness, they're trendier by the day: Lately, it seems like we can't walk down the snack aisle of our grocery store (or even into the corner bodega) without seeing a whole new crop of brands and flavors.sushi miami beach 33141 So they're probably sneakily terrible for us, right?store bought tuna for sushiTo find out, we (somewhat hesitantly) called on nutritionist Keri Glassman for her insight—and were pleasantly surprised (nay, thrilled) when she confirmed that the buzz is justified. g sushi hong kong delivery"I love them," she says. food delivery in ottawa 24 hours"They satisfy a salty craving and help many people reap the benefits of sea vegetables who otherwise would not." 

And the benefits abound: Seaweed (and specifically nori, the kind usually used for seaweed snacks) is a cocktail of nutrients, including high levels of vitamins A and C, and calcium. Vegans can rejoice in the fact that it's one of the only natural, non-animal sources of vitamin B-12, which is essential for many cognitive and bodily functions. In addition, sea vegetables tout particularly high amounts of iodine, potassium, selenium, iron, and magnesium—unrivaled by land vegetables, as these minerals are especially concentrated in seawater. Better yet, all of this comes in a very low-calorie package: For example, one bag of SeaSnax's classic Olive Oil flavor has 16 percent and 8 percent of our daily recommended value of vitamins A and C, respectively, at a cost of just 50 calories. And that's for two servings. Of course, there are some other things to keep in mind before tearing into a dozen packages of SeaSnax in one go. Seaweed is naturally high in sodium, so Glassman advises checking nutrition labels to ensure that there isn't too much additional salt.

While you're checking, look out for a couple of other red flags. "Look for brands with a short ingredient list—seaweed, olive or sesame oil, and salt—versus added sugar and artificial ingredients," she says. We've also found that some brands are greasier than others.But with all this considered, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. "I am a fan," Glassman concludes. "It's a great choice for when you need a salty fix for low calories." We'll mark this as a much-needed  healthy snack win. I Replaced Coffee with Natural Energy Boosters for a Week What to Eat to Feel Better About Life Eat These Snacks to End Your Nightmares Eat These Foods to Banish Every PMS Symptom What to Eat Before and After Every Kind of Workout 9 Perfectly Body-Con Boredom Snacks Scientists Discovered That This Diet Is Better For Your Heart Than Exercise Is Breast Milk the Newest Superfood? How a Model Preps for Fashion Week Red Wine Can Help You Burn Fat, Says Science