(L to R) Markita Lewis, MS, RD and Valeri Lea
As part of its goal to have more people enjoying and using “more peanuts in more ways, more often,” the National Peanut Board (NPB) attended two events in March that focused on culinary innovation and allergy prevention: the Healthy Menus Collaborative and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Annual Conference.
Early in the month, NPB attended the Culinary Institute of America’s Healthy Menus Collaborative, held in Napa, California, from March 10-12. This strategic initiative brings together foodservice operators, sponsors and leaders in health and wellness to advance the development of healthy menu solutions that support consumer well-being.
Peanuts had many opportunities to shine throughout the conference, from chef-crafted recipes to demonstrating practical applications that help address challenges facing foodservice operators today. Representing NPB, Markita Lewis, MS, RD, and consultant Valerie Lea were in attendance.
At the Kitchen Solutions Exchange, NPB showcased a Peanut Butter and Mango Chutney Sandwich with Crispy Shallots, a variation of the Sweet and Spicy PB&J sandwich developed for K-12 schools. Lewis and Lea discussed practical solutions peanuts can offer operators looking to build menu items that meet the needs of GLP-1 users and are kid-friendly. Operator members overwhelmingly identified the elevated PB&J as a standout item and noted they planned to take insights and ideas from the exchange back to their organizations.
Later in the program, Lea co-presented with Cheryl Drummond, senior director of culinary innovation at Torchy’s Tacos, highlighting the impact of sponsor-operator collaborations and how Torchy’s The Ronin taco came to life. Through networking sessions and practical application strategies, many operators expressed interest in working with NPB to incorporate peanuts into their menus in innovative ways.
Later in the month, Lewis and Caroline Franklin of Golin attended the NAPNAP National Conference on Pediatric Health Care, held in Pittsburgh from March 18-21. The conference brought together pediatric nurse practitioners from across the country to share insights and advancements in pediatric care.
At the expo hall, NPB showcased Little Peanut and a range of resources designed to help health care professionals and parents feel confident introducing peanuts to help prevent peanut allergies. Many attendees shared their support for early introduction and noted familiarity with materials developed through a previous partnership with NAPNAP.
These conference engagements demonstrate NPB’s continued efforts to advance peanut consumption and break down barriers through education, innovation and collaboration.