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Why Pistachios Are My New Favorite Healthy Snack

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Pistachio Health Institute.

If you hang out around Smart Savvy Living much, you probably know that Mr. Savvy and myself have been trying to get healthier, which also means eating healthier. Healthier meals have been pretty easy so far since we both love a variety of healthy proteins and vegetables. Even soda has been pretty easy to give up this time around. However, the hardest part for me by far has been the snacking.

I've always been a snacker. It takes me forever to eat a plate of food as I prefer to eat a few bites and then put it aside for a while and finish later. Snacking has always been one of my unhealthy pitfalls though. I love eating a handful of this and that. Unfortunately, the this and that usually isn't quite so healthy. Chocolates, candy, chips, pretzels...all among my snacking favorites. As much as I love fruit and veggies, it's always been super hard for me to want to snack on them. So, I set out on finding a healthier alternative that I would actually want to eat.

Why Pistachios Are My New Favorite Healthy Snack | SmartSavvyLiving.com

These days I love having a bowl of pistachios near by to snack on instead of chips or chocolates.

As luck would have it, I was gifted some pistachios around this time. Now, I've never been afraid to try most foods, but ironically enough I had never had pistachios before. It's not something I grew up with. In fact, the only pistachios I ever remember seeing was in the form of neon green pistachio pudding in watergate salad. So, since I love most other nuts, I gave them a try and I have to say, I was hooked and kind of sad that I hadn't tried pistachios prior to this. Now they've become part of my healthier snacking regimen and I've actually been doing much better. It's so important to find healthy snacks that you really enjoy eating or it's sooo easy to fall back into old unhealthy habits.

Why Pistachios Are My New Favorite Healthy Snack | SmartSavvyLiving.com

You can also get pistachios in a variety of flavors so they never get old!

One thing that I really love about snacking on pistachios is that you feel like you're getting more bang for your snack. I've always loved the trick of feeling like you're eating more by taking smaller bites, so pistachios are perfect for this. For example, in a 1-ounce serving you get 49 pistachio kernels, compared to just 23 almonds or 14 walnut halves. Eating so many pistachios keeps me busier longer, especially since you have to crack them open, and helps me feel like I'm eating more. The other nice thing about pistachios is that they have a good chunk of fiber, which also helps me to feel fuller longer. In fact, in just a 30 gram serving, you get 12% of the daily recommended fiber amount.

Here are some more benefits to snacking on pistachios:

Why Pistachios Are My New Favorite Healthy Snack | SmartSavvyLiving.com

 

As you can see, there are many benefits to eating pistachios, so I'm proud to have a daily handful to snack on. Heck, even recent research from Harvard University and published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the benefits of snacking on nuts go up as the number of servings go up! In fact, pistachios are so awesome, the Pistachio Health Institute is hosting a Shine Like the Stars Sweepstakes on their Facebook page. Check out the details below for how you can win some awesome prizes!

3 winners will receive “Shine like the Stars Sweepstakes” prize packs, which include:

  • (1) Valslides autographed by celebrity fitness trainer, Valerie Waters
  • (1) Valerie Waters workout DVD
  • (1) Valerie Waters workout instructions
  • (1) Pistachio Health tote bag
  • (1) Pistachio Health nut container
  • (3) 8 oz. bags of pistachios
  • (1) $100 VISA Gift Card

To enter, participants must Like the Pistachio Health Institute Facebook page and enter their name, address and contact information here: http://bit.ly/1ccjp8i.

Participants may enter once a day for the duration of the Sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes will end at 3:00 p.m. PDT on Friday, February 14, 2014.

Have you changed up your eating habits or any of your routines to help get healthier in 2014?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Pistachio Health Institute.

Tammilee T

Wednesday 12th of February 2014

We love pistachios! They are so good and easy to take on the road or traveling.

Mommy Has A LIfe

Wednesday 12th of February 2014

YUMMM!! I love nuts, but I don't normally eat Pistachios. ((adds to shopping list)) :-)

Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell

Wednesday 12th of February 2014

My boyfriend snacks on those a lot, and he says one of the things he likes the most is that they take longer to eat because of the shell.

Audrey at Barking Mad!

Tuesday 11th of February 2014

I'm trying to eat more lean protein and increase my fiber . . . pistachios sound ideal for this. The only thing is I've never ever tried them. What do they taste like? As long as they aren't like hazelnuts, I'll try them. LOL

Tonya

Tuesday 11th of February 2014

I don't think I've ever tried Pistachio's. I love almonds, pecans and walnuts so I'd probably like them. I didn't realize they were such a great beneficial snack.