April Fool Yourself Full

April Fools Day is this week, and so I thought I’d run with that theme today and talk about a snacking trick I use to make myself feel more satisfied. It’s like playing a positive April Fools prank on yourself. I am calling it April Fool Yourself Full. Clever, right? 😉

In my humble opinion, two keys to sustainable weight loss and healthy lifestyle in general are enjoyment and satisfaction. If you love the taste of the food you are eating, you are more likely to continue. Also, if you choose foods that fill you up, you are more likely to stay on track.

A couple of strategies I use for this are (1) to bulk up the visual space of my food as much as possible and (2) pick nutrient dense, filling foods. Specifically, I like foods that have fiber, protein and (healthy) fat.

Enter the star of today’s post: pistachios!

These are one of my most favorite snacks. As far as what I look for in a healthy snack, these little guys check off a lot of my boxes.

• One of the lowest calorie nuts (often called the skinny nut!)
• They are a whole food
• Good source of protein
• Good source of fiber
• They taste great

I love to pair mine with some fruit to bulk up the snack even more.

I am loving them with strawberries right now, which are in season. Grapes and strawberries are probably my favorites, but pistachios also pair well with apples, pears, blueberries, raspberries, etc. And when you get that sweet and salty combination going on…oh man is it yummy and satisfying!

I used to buy the shelled ones most of the time, but I have started buying the in-shell ones a lot more lately. Why? Because it is yet another way to mind trick myself. Number one, it slows me down. Rather than just grabbing and gobbling, it makes me have to work for it a little harder.

And number two, those shells play a visual role. Not only do they make you snack look bigger, but they also act like a visual clue as to how much you have already eaten.

There have been actual studies done that show people can eat less without even realizing it by using visual cues such as this. Pretty cool, right?!

There are a few other example strategies that can help with this, and we have probably heard of some of these:

• Using smaller plates
• Buying single size portions (or pre-portioning them out yourself).
• Eating more slowly

The Pistachio Health Institute is giving away a YEAR’S supply of pistachios over on their Facebook page. Be sure and hop on over there it enter.

Now! If you’ll excuse me…ahem…I think it’s about time for my snack.

What are some ways you mind trick yourself to feel more satisfied?

What are some of your favorite snacks?

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