Pistachios: The Skinny Nut

I love pistachios. They are so tasty, crunchy and addicting. In fact, my all time favorite nut butter is pistachio butter because it has so much flavor. I like them plain or crushed into yogurt- particularly peach Greek yogurt!

Pistachios are know as "the skinny nut" because they are lower in calories and fat than some other kinds of nuts. For my pistachio pairing, I made a snack plate full of different healthy foods. My husband and I like to make snack plates and share them after work while we catch up on our days. This one included pistachios, blueberries, yellow bell pepper, red delicious apple and a varieties of cheeses.

I think that the pistachios in the shell are fun to eat because they are different than most other foods and they also take longer to eat. Instead of throwing a handful of these in your mouth, you are forced to slow down and break open each one- a good tool to help prevent overeating!

Also, the Pistachio Principle suggests leaving out your pistachio shells for a visual reminder of how many pistachios you have eaten for portion control.

Here are some facts about pistachios:
-30 pistachios are only about 100 calories!
-A serving of pistachios is about 49 nuts (more than peanuts which is only 28)
-High in protein and lower in fat than most other nuts
-A serving has 3 grams of fiber (more than some kinds of fruits and veggies) which can help keep you full

From January 7th to the 31st, there is a sweepstakes going on called The Year of the Skinny Nut Sweepstakes. Check out the Pistachios Health Institute Facebook page for more information. The prize: a year supply of pistachios!!! How awesome would that be?


I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.