Everybody (especially college students) has a favorite snack. In a world full of snacking opportunity, it can be hard to decide what to eat while trying to balance factors such as health, variety and tastiness. These three things make up overall snackability (a made up word for this debate). Snackabily is important in day to day life and nuts, of all kinds, hit every point required to be the most snackable. Below is a list of nuts and those that are the best for snacking.
1. The Pistachio
A quick Google search taught me that pistachios are tree nuts that originated in Central Asia and the Middle East. As a member of the cashew family, pistachios are wonderfully delicious. With 159 calories in a one ounce serving, pistachios have quite a high calorie intake. However, these nuts are full of healthy unsaturated fats, potassium, dietary fiber and protein. Pistachios also boast a high snackabilty rating. With various flavors to choose from, ranging from salt and pepper to spicy wasabi, they never get boring. Pistachios can pack a flavorful punch while being healthy and tasty. Anytime is a good time to enjoy a nice handful of pistachios.
2. The Cashew
A close second to the pistachio but not quite as snackable. Another Google search concluded that the cashew nut comes from a tropical evergreen tree that also produces apples. As a member of the Mixed Nuts family (nuts that appear in any orientation/package of mixed nuts), cashews are readily available and inexpensive. With 157 calories in a one ounce serving, cashews can be hard to budget on a diet. On the flip side, these nuts also have a high amount of healthy unsaturated fats, protein and magnesium. In the context of mixed nuts, a cashew is always welcome. It’s salty, delicious and unique. The flavor doesn’t get old. Cashews have a high snackability rating followed by a high rating in tastiness and health, though the lack of variety is disappointing.
3. The Almond
The almond is a tree nut, originating from the Mediterranean region of Europe. Commonly known as a nutritious snack, a one ounce serving of almonds contains nearly 163 calories, which is higher than that of both cashews and pistachios. However, they contain more fiber and magnesium than either of those high snackability nuts. While almonds have a decently high snackability rating, these nuts rank third because their flavor gets old faster than that of the pistachio or the cashew. Similar to the pistachio, almonds can be purchased in a variety of flavors, such as smokehouse and wasabi.
4. The Macadamia Nut
A tree nut originating in Australia, the macadamia nut ranks fourth on the snackability hierarchy due to its natural unhealthiness in comparison to other nuts. With 204 calories in a one ounce serving, macadamia nuts pack a punch to the gut. With this high calorie count, you’re getting mostly unsaturated fat and not much else. However, macadamia nuts out rank almost every other nut on the flavor and variety scale. Macadamia nuts can be salted, spiced and even covered in chocolate. Definitely a nut to enjoy on occasion, but don’t eat too many.
5. The Peanut
The peanut is not actually a nut, but a legume, which is in the same family as a bean. Peanuts contain 161 calories in a one ounce serving with most of these calories stemming from unsaturated fat. Peanuts are lower in protein, magnesium and potassium in comparison to the tree nuts mentioned in this rating. Peanuts have a relatively high variety score on the snackability scale and can be purchased in flavors like honey roasted and the godsend known as peanut butter. However, their flavor gets old pretty quickly and your mouth gets dry. Peanuts are not the best in the context of mixed nuts either. Companies are starting to put less peanuts in their variety packs and for a good reason; they’re pretty average.
Are you as nuts about nuts as I am? Let’s hear your opinion. Send a letter to van.vancouged@wsu.edu. Letter to the editor requirements are on page two.