Handfuls are TRICKY... you have to really think about actual servings. Although most nuts are higher in protein, they also contain a ton of fat and sodium. those two components will prevent you from losing the necessary weight you're looking for.
what I would recommend is unsalted unroasted almonds and a serving which depending on the size of the almond. They sell them in a big jar at Costco, or your local fruit & veggie store. Also, when I fast for lent, and give up all meat and fish and dairy, I invest in a ton of soy based products which most grocers carry now. The only thing to be careful of again, is sodium intake. Are you a vegan or only just don't eat meat? dairy products like eggs are very high in protein as is fish and even crustacean's like crab, shrimp & the like. Or imitation crab even can work to switch things up. avoid a ton of cashews as they are very high in fat.
Also, invest in some protein powder to help supplement the nutrients your not getting from meats. You can mix most with nondairy milk or, water, or juices... good luck

yeah - it's better to think of nuts as a source of fat that by the way happens to have a little protein in it. If you use nuts as a protein source you end up consuming way too much fat for weight loss goals.

Good news, though, nuts are a source of the right kind of fat - and I would echo JTGPP's advice about the unsalted, unroasted.