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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Whether you’re a health nut or just looking to improve your eating habits, peanuts are a great food choice to incorporate into a diet, particularly for your heart. Plain nuts and peanut butter can help to manage hunger and are increasingly believed to boost heart health. With conditions like heart disease, obesity and diabetes becoming more prominent, Canadians are looking for healthy meal options at home and when eating out. A recent article from The Telegraph titled “Go nuts for nuts,” examined the health benefits of various nuts including peanuts.

The food service industry is always aware of the ingredients in any prepared meal to minimize the risk of exposing customers to food allergens, but could a little exposure to peanuts lessen a severe reaction in those who live with allergies? 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? Train a child’s immune system to develop a higher tolerance for peanuts.

Just in from the Peanut Institute is a health announcement that is sure to set hearts a-flutter: oil roasted salted peanuts have been certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) as heart-healthy. As part of an overall healthy eating program, the Heart Check mark may now appear on packages of oil roasted peanuts. Visit the health and nutrition section of the Peanut Institute’s website for the complete announcement.

In recent articles from The Windsor Star and Glow Magazine, nuts were highlighted as arguably the healthiest snack in your pantry. Why not put this knowledge to use as you make good on your New Year’s weight loss resolution?

After another successful year, the results are in and it’s no surprise that Canadians love their peanuts and peanut butter. According to recent research completed by Leger Marketing, peanut consumption in Canada remains high, indicating the peanut products are a staple in Canadian homes.