Eat the Science - California Walnuts

Culinary Innovation and Science Collide in a Dynamic Workshop Series

Kale Farro Salad

What’s better than learning about the latest evidence-based health benefits of walnuts? Cooking (and eating) while doing it! The Culinary Nutrition Collaborative is back in 2026 with “Eat the Science” to bring the latest walnut health research to life through new and on-trend culinary applications. The California Walnut Commission is a proud commercial supporter of this series now in its fourth season.

Join chefs and registered dietitians Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN and Jackie Topol, MS, RD, CDN, CLT, co-founders of the Culinary Nutrition Collaborative for live demonstrations on the latest cooking and preparation techniques that incorporate walnuts and new guest experts who will dive into the innovative research investigating the impact of walnut consumption on optimal health and feeling good.

Catch Up on the Eat the Science Workshops Today

Feel free to view or cook-along to each 60-minute Eat the Science workshop to receive continuing education credits approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)*.

Sleep On It: The Connection Between Walnut Consumption and Restful Nights

Thursday, 1/29 at 1:00 PM ET

With the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s not a shock that nearly 1 in 3 adults report not getting enough sleep.1

For the first time, the Culinary Nutrition Collaborative were joined by researchers from the University of Barcelona who dove deep into their novel research and findings, exploring the different components of walnuts that may help support and improve sleep. Two new, walnut-centric recipes were shared, bringing the research to life with dishes that are perfect for evening meals or bedtime snacks. With sleep being a foundational component of feeling good, this workshop offers science-backed, practical and flavorful takeaways for you to harness the power of walnuts to help improve nighttime wellness.

Watch the Recording from Thursday, January 29th at 10am PT/1pm ET and receive 1 FREE CPEU for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians, Registered. 

  1. CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2013–2022. Sleep is not assessed on the core survey in the following years: 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. Percentage of adults not getting enough sleep, adjusted for age.
Vegetable-Walnut Pasta Bake 2

Vegetable-Walnut Pasta Bake

This completely plant-based pasta dish is packed with vegetables and features a bolognese-like sauce made with mushrooms and walnuts.

walnut oat crusted veggie egg cups

Walnut & Oat Crusted Veggie Egg Cups

The perfect grab and go breakfast, these Walnut and Oat Crusted Veggie Egg Cups are great to meal prep for the week.

Faux Gras Walnut and Mushroom Pâté

This 100% plant based spread combines walnuts with savory lentils and sweet shallots, along with ingredients that amp up the umami flavor to create the perfect vegetable forward accompaniment on any charcuterie board.

Curried Walnut and Apple Butternut Squash Soup

Curried Walnut and Apple Butternut Squash Soup

This sweet and savory soup showcases seasonal ingredients like butternut squash and apples, as well as features California walnuts to provide a depth of flavor and a rich, creamy consistency.

Missed Any of the Workshops from the Eat the Science Series?

If you missed any workshops from the series, view the recordings using the links below. Once viewed, complete the individual workshop survey linked below and hit submit. You will be taken to a Thank You page, where there will be a link to the CPEU certificate for you to download. Please email the CPE Providers Kristy Del Coro and Jackie Topol at info@culinarynutritioncollaborative.com with any issues.

Sleep On It

Sleep On It: The Connection Between Walnut Consumption and Restful Nights

Check out the recording for this first workshop of 2026, where the researchers from the University of Barcelona shared their novel research and findings, exploring the different components of walnuts that may help support and improve sleep. With sleep being a foundational component of feeling good, this workshop offers science-backed, practical and flavorful takeaways for you to harness the power of walnuts to help improve nighttime wellness. Take the post-webinar survey here, and after completion, there will be a link to the CPEU certificate for you to download.

Supporting Wellness from Head to Toe with Walnuts

For decades, walnuts have been studied for their wide-ranging health benefirts including heart health, brain health, gut health and more. The research continues to evolve, and this next installment of Eat the Science unlocks the full potential of walnuts by showcasing the newest studies and how this powerhouse nut supports health benefits from head-to-toe acorss the lifespan. Take the post-webinar survey here, and after completion, there will be a link to the CPEU certificate for you to download.

*Supporting Wellness from Head to Toe with Walnuts awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.

Fuel for the Foodie Generation: Walnuts for Gen Z and Millennial Well-Being

Check out the recording of the first workshop from the third season of Eat the Science where the Culinary Nutrition Collaborative shares the latest research on walnut consumption for well-being from adolescence to young adulthood.

Take the post-webinar survey here, and after completion, there will be a link to the CPEU certificate for you to download.

*Fuel for the Foodie Generation: Walnuts for Gen Z and Millennial Well-Being awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.

Minds Matter: Supporting Mental Well-Being and Cognition with Walnuts

While research on the role of diet on brain health continues to evolve, scientific evidence suggests that including walnuts as part of a balanced diet may help maintain and improve cognition for individuals across the lifespan. There is also emerging research that suggests certain nutrients, eating patterns and individual foods, such as walnuts, may play a supporting role in mental well-being. Check out the recording to hear how regular walnut consumption may help support brain health, cognition and mental well-being. Take the post-webinar survey here, and after completion, there will be a link to the CPEU certificate for you to download.

*Minds Matter: Supporting Mental Well-Being and Cognition with Walnuts awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.

Love Your Heart: The Role a Handful of Walnuts Plays in Heart and Whole Body Health

Three decades of research have demonstrated that walnuts help support cardiovascular health, making them a key staple in a heart-healthy* diet. What’s more, newer research has shown that a handful of walnuts is the bridge not only to heart-health, but many other positive lifestyle improvements including improved diet quality and overall intake of crucial nutrients for well-being. Check out the recording to learn how a handful of walnuts can be a simple way to help support whole body health. Download the post-webinar survey here, where after completion, there will be a link to the CPEU certificate for you to download.

*Love Your Heart: The Role a Handful of Walnuts Plays in Heart and Whole Body Health awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.

Cracking Open Walnuts' Emerging Role in Gut Health and Other Trends In 2024

Are you following #GutTok, the hashtag viewed over 500M times and driving consumer interest on gut health? Or leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to design recipes? With the new year right around the corner, crack open the latest food and nutrition trends that will be taking over news feeds during our first installment in the second season of Eat the Science. Download post-webinar survey here, where after completion, there will be a link to the CPEU certificate for you to download.

*Cracking Open Walnuts’ Emerging Role in Gut Health and Other Trends in 2024 awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.

Food For Thought: Family-Friendly Walnut Recipes and Emerging Brain Health Research

A growing body of research has shown that walnut consumption may help support optimum brain health and cognitive function! View our latest workshop focused on how walnuts and their unique nutrient profile, including omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz), may play a role in supporting brain health including cognitive function.1 You’ll also learn how to make two unique recipes with walnuts that are family-friendly and can be shared with your patients and clients. Take the post-webinar survey here.

Explore the Latest Food Trends with Heart-Healthy Walnuts*

Our winter workshop brings the latest food trends to life through culinary application and the latest heart health research featuring walnuts. Join the Culinary Nutrition Collaborative to learn how to make two unique recipes with walnuts that highlight two trends: the ‘reinvention of retro foods’ and the ‘fusion of flavors.’ Take the post-webinar survey here.

Walnuts for Well-Being: Recipe Hacks that Save Time in the Kitchen

In our first workshop part of the Eat the Science series, learn time saving meal hacks with walnuts through two unique recipes that can be repurposed various ways in a week. Take the post-webinar survey here.

*Heart-Check Certification does not apply to scientific research by an organization other than the American Heart Association, unless expressly stated.

References:

  1. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov. 

*Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet and not resulting in increased caloric intake, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. (FDA) One ounce of walnuts offers 18g of total fat, 2.5g of monounsaturated fat, 13g of polyunsaturated fat including 2.5g of alpha-linolenic acid – the plant-based omega-3. 

Tip: Maximize California walnuts fresh taste and quality by keeping them in your refrigerator or freezer.

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