The Technomic Foodservice Attitudes & Practices Towards Walnuts Study conducted in 2016 revealed some useful insight when it comes to adding walnuts to the menu.
Not only do 44% of foodservice operators report that you can charge more for a dish by adding walnuts, but 41% of operators also state that specifying “California walnuts” makes a menu item more appealing than simply saying “walnuts” alone. Foodservice operators also agree that diners perceive a dish containing walnuts to have more texture (64%), and flavor (53%), and to be more unique (53%), more authentic (43%) and healthier (58%) than dishes without walnuts.
Moreover, the top reason customers enjoy walnuts is because of their reputation as a nutritious addition to their diets. (Rose Research Attitude & Usage Study) And consumers are right. Heart-healthy* walnuts are the only nuts that contain a significant amount of plant-based omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz). This, combined with their versatility and additional health benefits, makes California walnuts a valuable option for any menu. Click here for ways to substitute and incorporate walnuts into a variety of dishes.
*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 provides 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.
