Did you know that Canada has a peanut butter claim to fame? Marcellus Gilmore Edson of Montreal was the first person to patent modern peanut butter for peanut candy. Issued in 1884 by the United States government, Edson patented the finished product in the process of milling roasted peanuts. His patent is based on the preparation of a peanut paste as an intermediate to the production of the modern product we know as peanut butter.

Each year, food experts compile a list of food trends they believe will take foodservice audiences by storm. The experts weigh what’s in, what’s out, and most of all, what’s coming up next. Will we eat more Asian or Latin American-influenced food? What impact will the economy and our time-crunched lives have on what we eat?

Can a little exposure to peanuts lessen severe reactions in allergy sufferers? While this has been a long-debated question, it may soon be answered thanks to studies being conducted by Canadian and U.S. doctors. The ultimate result? To train the immune system of a child who lives with allergies to develop a higher tolerance for peanuts.

It’s long been said that Canadians have a love affair with peanuts and peanut butter, and 2012 was no exception. According to recent research completed by Leger Marketing, peanut consumption in Canada remains high, pointing towards the popularity of peanut products in Canadian homes. In fact, not only does the research indicate high consumption rates, it paints a picture of tradition and comfort that peanut products provide. Consider these statistics the next time you need to make a healthy food choice recommendation to a client.

According to the Canadian Obesity Network, one in four Canadian adults and one in 10 Canadian children are clinically obese. This means that six million Canadians are currently living with obesity. As a leading cause of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and cancer, obesity can have a significant impact on daily life with family, work colleagues and health care practitioners.

Summer is a time when “fresh, premium quality, convenient and flavourful” appetites dominate the thoughts of many. It’s all about being outdoors as much as possible, including cooking outdoors. Summer is also a time when traditional “three square” winter meals give way to smaller meals and, likely, more frequent snacking post breakfast to enjoy Canada’s all too brief summer.

With the very long winter finally over, Canadians are more than eager to get outside and maximize their time in the sun. If you’re planning an outdoor activity with friends and family, consider incorporating peanuts into the menu.

From weight management, to healthy snacking, to disease control, it’s been said that diet plays a major role in keeping us healthy. And, did you know that peanut butter can play a helpful role in managing diet?

It was once thought that consuming three meals a day was a healthy way of managing weight and nutrient intake – snacking between meals was to be avoided. Today, experts encourage snacking between consuming smaller meals, provided the snack is nutritious.

You would think from the media coverage it gets and the emphasis some nutritional policy makers put on it, that salt was a first cousin of plutonium: dangerous in even small quantities and so best avoided by anyone who wants to stay healthy. That would be wrong on several counts, as the latest evidence review from the US Institute of Medicine points out. It concludes, not surprisingly, that many people still consume too much salt in their diets (especially from processed meats, baked goods, “ready meals” and take-away foods), but it does not cast salt as a villain to be shunned.

Peanuts have been used to fuel up before and after hockey games from decades. Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle is known to start his day with peanut butter, toast and coffee. In 1933, a reporter spotted Maple Leaf player John Benedict O'Flaherty eating peanuts before a hockey, earning him the nickname “Peanuts”. More recently, Ottawa Senator Darren Kramer has developed a patent pending peanut butter jar to help peanut fans get every last bit of the gooey goodness.

PREDIMED stands for Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea, the largest and most robust study ever mounted of the health impact of the Mediterranean Diet. Based in Spanish academic centres, PREDIMED researchers reported recently that consuming a diet rich in either extra-virgin olive oil or nuts cuts by 30 per cent the chances of those at risk of experiencing heart attacks or strokes, or dying of a heart condition.

The Peanut Butter for the Hungry Initiative started in 2008, by a group of peanut growers, shellers, manufacturers and industry members to help malnourished children in places where resources are limited.

Fat has traditionally been viewed as a foe to the health conscious or those looking to shed pounds. However, essential fatty acids offer a variety of benefits and are an integral part of our health. In a Q&A article published on www.menusofchange.org, Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard School of Public Health and Amy Myrdal Miller, M.S., R.D. of The Culinary Institute of America explain why it’s time to debunk the “low fat is best” myth.

You’ve heard it before. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, did you know that what you eat for breakfast can impact the rest of your day? A new study released by the British Journal of Nutrition explains that eating peanut butter or peanuts for breakfast contributes to the management of blood sugar for most of the day. Peanuts and peanut butter can help minimize hunger pangs and increase production of the hormone PYY, which is responsible for making you feel full.

Dietitians frequently receive questions from parents on how to encourage their children to eat healthy. Parents generally know how important healthy eating is, but they face challenges incorporating this into their daily lives. To help dietitians assist parents, Peanut Bureau of Canada developed some easy and HEALTHY tips.

The power of a protein punch does the body good. Including protein in your regular diet helps to stave off hunger, build immunity and strengthen heart health, just to name a few benefits. A balanced diet improves your health, and including protein in the mix is absolutely essential.

New research suggests eating nuts regularly can help lower your risk of death, particularly from cancer and heart disease

Peanuts together with some tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios and pine nuts) have been singled out in terms of reduced overall mortality associated with frequent weekly consumption. PREDIMED (‘PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea’) is a large, robust and long-running nutrition trial based in Spain. For this study, the investigators randomised and evaluated 7,216 men and women aged 55 to 80 years (mean age 67) who were already participating in PREDIMED into 1 of 3 interventions: Mediterranean diets supplemented with 1) nuts, or 2) olive oil, or 3) a control low fat diet).

According to a recent Times & Trends report titled “How America Eats: Capturing Growth with Food on the Run” released by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), an increasing number of Americans are eating on the run. Coined “opportunists” by IRI, these eaters represent 21 per cent of Americans and eat “mini meals” throughout the day as opposed to the traditional, three-meals-a-day.

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A nutritious protein-packed breakfast will help keep kids focused and build strong muscles and bones. As for adults, many studies have suggested the beneficial link between breakfast and moderating obesity, blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems.

Here’s some really good news to spread around. A large and powerful prospective epidemiology study published in September’s issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment found that American girls consuming peanut butter, peanuts and other nuts may reduce their risks for developing benign breast disease (BBD) when they are young women in their ‘20s. Even better news is that their risks in later life of developing breast cancer may also fall significantly.

With spring and summer fast-approaching, we soon will see melting snow give way to patios anxiously waiting to open up once again. Warmer weather revitalizes our lazy taste buds and rejuvenates our interest in healthy eating. This means eating more snacks and salads, and adding a little creativity to our meals.

The history of peanut butter in the Canadian diet dates back to 1884 when Montrealer Marcellus Gilmore Edson first patented modern peanut butter for peanut candy. Since then, peanuts and peanut butter have been inseparable from the Canadian diet.

The Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) recently released a new position statement on the dietary exposures and allergy prevention in high-risk infants.¹ Infants who are at high-risk for developing allergies are defined as usually having a first-degree relative (at least one parent or sibling) with an allergic condition such as a food allergy, atopic dermatitis or asthma.

It doesn’t matter if you like your peanuts plain, roasted, salted or flavoured with chili spices. New research shows that the health benefits of peanuts are independent of how the snack nuts might be flavoured or seasoned. Researchers at Purdue University led by Dr. Richard Mattes reported this month that seasonings/flavours on snack peanuts did not offset their nutritional benefits.

What’s better than the classic taste of peanut butter? Why, new flavoured peanut butter, of course! With the recent growth of the entire peanut butter category, new peanut butter flavours have been introduced – and their popularity is spreading rapidly. Now, Canadians can enjoy tasty twists on their favourite snack: honey, banana granola, cinnamon granola raisin, cranberry and even chocolate-flavoured peanut butter for those who want to enjoy a treat.

The summer and back-to-school seasons are times when shoppers are looking for convenience, portability, variety, and, of course, value for their purchasing dollar. This is where the perfectly powerful peanut comes in.

Magnesium is a mineral you need every day for good health – but are you getting enough? According to Health Canada, many adults have inadequate intakes of magnesium.

Desserts are the most eagerly awaited course in all meals. In the restaurant industry, desserts make the last impression and can ultimately make or break your relationship with your customers. Here are a few simple but mouth-watering ideas that will get customers coming back to you for more.