Folsom, CA – The California Walnut Board is teaming up with RealAge cofounder and coauthor of the popular YOU series, Dr. Michael Roizen and James Beard Hall of Fame member Mollie Katzen to help Americans eat well with the Smart HolidaysTM Menu Makeover recipe contest. This consumer contest is a national search for holiday recipes incorporating walnuts that are both delicious and nutritious.
A panel of judges including Dr. Michael Roizen and Mollie Katzen will select five grand prize-winning recipes to receive a KitchenAid stand mixer. Twenty-
The holiday season is celebrated by people of all cultures who share traditional foods and festive times with those they love, but it’s also when they pay less attention to their nutritional intake. In response, the California Walnut Board has created the Smart HolidaysTM program to inspire families to makeover their favorite dishes in a smart way that embraces the taste and tradition of holiday meals while improving the nutritional value.
California walnuts are the key ingredient to any smart recipe. Walnuts add flavor, texture and provide important alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), plant-based omega-3 fatty acids . Using them in your recipes is a great way to add essential nutrients to your daily diet.
The California Walnut Board encourages home chefs to create Smart HolidaysTM recipes keeping the following criteria in mind:
• Keep portion sizes within the USDA’s recommended dietary allowances
• Use whole food ingredients
• Keep salt and sugar to a minimum
• Keep saturated fats to a minimum
More tips for creating smart recipes, rules and regulations, and contest entry can be found on the “Smart Holiday Menu Makeover” website (www.walnuts.org/
This is an online entry-only contest running through December 31, 2008. The contest will culminate with the naming of five Grand Prize Winners on January 30, 2009. For further details and to enter, please visit www.walnuts.org/
The California walnut industry is made up of approximately 5,500 growers and 55 handlers. The growers and handlers are represented by two entities, the California Walnut Board (CWB) and the California Walnut Commission (CWC).
California Walnut Board
The Walnut Marketing Board was established in 1948 to represent the walnut growers and handlers of California. In April 2008, the Walnut Marketing Board became the California Walnut Board to provide origin designation to the product it represents. The Board is funded by mandatory assessments of the handlers. The CWB is governed by a Federal Walnut Marketing Order. The Board promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The Board also provides funding for walnut production and post-harvest research.
California Walnut Commission
The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The Commission is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The CWC is mainly involved in health research and export market development activities.
Non-Discrimination Statement
The Walnut Marketing Board (WMB) and California Walnut Commission (CWC) prohibit discrimination in all programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance programs.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the WMB / CWC offices at (916) 922-5888.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). WMB/CWC is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
For more information, please contact Bryan Harland at (415) 956-1791 or bryan@torme.com
One ounce of walnuts provides: 18g of total fat: 2.5g of monounsaturated fat, 13.4g of polyunsaturated fat, including 2.6 grams of alpha linolenic acid - the plant based omega-3; as well as 2 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein and various other vitamins and minerals. http://www.nal.usda.gov/
