January will always mean the start of New Year’s resolutions, the most popular of which are losing weight and eating healthier. While this may pose a challenge when it comes to menu ideation, it’s not as daunting as it seems, thanks to 2019’s diet of the year, the Mediterranean Diet (MD). Consumers are becoming more familiar with the ingredients and their nutritional benefits, including the benefits of good fats.
There appears to be a growing preference for good fats over processed low calorie foods. Growing knowledge of the Mediterranean Diet (with ingredients like olive oil, fish, and walnuts), has attracted consumer attention and created a shift in their understanding of nutrition. The increase in educational marketing around good-fat foods, like California walnuts, will soon, if it hasn’t already, affect consumer demand and consequently your menu. In Q4 of 2018, consumers viewed 371 health related media placements on California walnuts alone, which garnered over half a billion impressions. And this is just the beginning. With continued marketing efforts, the demand will only grow.
The good news? Meeting consumer demand will be almost effortless as California walnuts and other good fats are easy to incorporate into new dishes. Stick with ingredients familiar to your diners and already on hand. For example, walnuts and olive oil combine for a winning vinaigrette, easy to prep in advance. For an entrée, this Walnut Crusted Pesto Salmon is another quick dish filled with Omega-3s. Or replace cream as a sauce thickener with ground walnuts.
There are endless possibilities to integrate good fats into your menu. Just remember the California walnuts! Trust us, you’ll be glad you did.
