Review: Wonderful Pistachios & Everybody’s Nuts

Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the number one snacking day and the second biggest food celebration day (after Thanksgiving) in the US? But unlike Thanksgiving’s more balanced meal, Super Bowl parties usually involve snacks that are more unhealthy – like chips, dips, buffalo wings, pizza and such. But there are snack options out there that not only provide a great finger food option during the big game, but which are deliciously healthy as well – like pistachios.

What they are:

Pistachios are among the most heart-healthy snacks out there – and they give you more nutrients per calorie than any other nut. Most of the fat in pistachios is “good” unsaturated fat that can help lower the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death among Americans today. And they help lower “bad” cholesterol as well, since pistachios contain more phytosterols (a naturally occurring compound that helps lower cholesterol absorption and maintain normal cholesterol levels) than any other nut.

Because pistachios are full of protein and fiber you tend to feel fuller after eating them, causing game day grazers to snack less but feel fuller longer. One ounce of pistachios provides 12% of the daily recommended amount of fiber, which helps to aid in digestion and control blood sugar levels. And that same ounce of pistachios also has 20% of the daily recommended value of vitamin B6.

Wonderful Pistachios offers roasted and salted pistachio nuts that make an irresistibly crunchy snack – perfect either for everyday snacking, or entertaining. And at Everybody’s Nuts you can find four flavors – South of the Border, European Roast, Roasted No Salt, and Salt & Pepper.

We received a sample of pistachios from each of these companies to try out, along with a very cool football-shaped serving dish, a post-it note holder, a pin and a book of ‘Stach’ comics from Everybody’s Nuts.

Here’s my take on them:

I’m a big fan of nuts in general – I love almonds, pecans, and walnuts, usually eaten with or in other foods like cereals, cookies or breads. I’d never really tried pistachios before, so was curious as to what I would think. I’d read about the Pistachio Principle, that basically gives you several simple ways to ‘fool yourself thin’ – one of which is by snacking on food that take longer and more effort to eat (like by having to shell pistachios) you won’t eat as much, yet will still feel just as full. I was really curious to see if that would be true for me.

And I do have to say that it is. I think in part, because I tend to snack the most when I can simply be grabbing and munching while doing something else, without even thinking about it. But the pistachios make me actually pay attention to how many I’m eating, and I can see how many I’ve had, just by looking at the pile of empty shells. It definitely helps with the whole portion control idea.

And they’re pretty delicious as well – just enough salt to satisfy my salt cravings, and they have a satisfying crunch that makes them fun to eat.

The bottom line:

Whether you’re looking for snack options for the big game this weekend, or just for a healthy alternative to feed yourself or your family, pistachios are a great choice to help off-set “empty calorie” consumption.

Where can you find them?:

You can get more information about pistachios in general, and their health benefits at http://pistachiohealth.com. And you can find out where to purchase them at either http://wonderfulpistachios.com. or http://everybodysnuts.com.