Pistachio Pairing: Kids Shark Snack

This month, members of the Recipe Redux had the opportunity to get a sample of in-shell pistachios to enter a Pistachio Pairings contest from the Pistachio Health Institute. Of course I entered! Pistachios are one of my favorite nuts. The way this contest works is members have to find items to combine with pistachios in a healthful, tasty way.

I was pleased to find out that eating in-shell pistachios is also a healthy choice. They are full of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. And by eating them in the shell, you also decrease your portion size, because the shells serve as a reminder of how many you've eaten, creating a state of mindful eating.

I decided to try my hand at making a cute scene for my son using the pistachios. Friends, this is much harder than it looks unless you have instructions! :) I consider myself somewhat artistic, but drawing with food is a new medium for me!  I ended up coming up with this cute little shark scene that gave my son a well-balanced snack. For my pairing, since I had my son in mind, I removed the shells from the pistachios before I fed them to him. I didn't want him eating a shell! I paired the snack with a glass of milk.

My pairing: Pistachios + cheddar cheese + red sweet pepper + whole-grain toast + a glass of milk

Ingredients for the shark scene
about 30 in-shell pistachios
2 slices of cheddar cheese
1 small red sweet pepper
1 piece of whole-grain toast

Directions
1. Remove shells of pistachios.
2. Cut one slice of cheese to create the body of the shark. Cut the other into the three fins.
3. Cut your toast into a boat shape.
4. Cut the red pepper in half. Use one half to make the sail. With the other half, cut out a small eye for the shark and, from a triangle shape, cut out a mouth with teeth.
5. Arrange the elements on your plate. Surround the shark with shelled pistachios to create the water.
6. Serve with a glass of milk for a healthy, filling snack!

My son took one look at the shark and said "Oh! How cute!" And then he ate it. We had fun saying things like, "No, don't eat my eyeball!" Because little boys can't get enough of that sort of thing. :)

I received free pistachio samples from the Pistachio Health Institute mentioned in this post. By posting this pairing I am entering a contest sponsored by Pistachio Health Institute and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

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