Foodie News
Prioritize Brain Health with a Peanut-Packed Menu
(Feature Impact) A healthy brain goes beyond reading exercises and completing puzzles – it extends to the kitchen, too. Emerging nutritional science is clear that what people eat doesn’t just fuel the body; it shapes memory, mood and cognitive health.
Among the foods you can include in your diet to give your brain a boost are peanuts and peanut butter, staples valued not only for their convenience but also for their cognitive benefits. In fact, a study published in the “Journal of the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease” found adults 60-80 years old who did not eat peanuts and peanut butter regularly were 30-50% more likely to perform poorly on tests measuring learning, memory, language, processing motor speed and attentiveness compared to those who did consumer peanuts and peanut butter.
It’s not just the older generation that can benefit. According to research published in “Clinical Nutrition,” a study of college students ages 18-33 showed consumption of peanuts and peanut butter was associated with improved memory function and decreased anxiety, depression and stress.
Consider this key information from the Georgia Peanut Commission before your next meal planning session.
Nutrients that Give the Brain a Boost
Despite their small stature, peanuts pack a nutrition punch. Their unique blend of various vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds includes:
- Niacin, which can slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to the “Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry”
- Vitamin E, found to promote healthy brain aging and delay cognitive decline
- Resveratrol, believed to be beneficial in fighting against Alzheimer’s disease and other nerve degenerating diseases, per the “Journal of Biological Chemistry”
- P-coumaric acid, an antioxidant that appears to target the neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate mood, stress and anxiety
Peace of MIND
Peanuts are included in the MIND diet, a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, which specifically includes foods shown to benefit the brain.
Adding peanuts to your menu can be a breeze. Look no further than a powerful main course like Crunchy and Creamy Cold Green Pea and Peanut Salad, a perfect accompaniment at potlucks and cookouts as an easy side or light main course. Make breakfast-on-the-go part of your daily commute with Flourless Blueberry Muffins that require just five ingredients, including creamy peanut butter, or add a pinch of protein to snack time with Protein Balls that can be refrigerated until hunger strikes.
Brain Food for Thought
Supporting your brain starts with the right nutrition, and evidence makes clear peanuts and peanut butter should be top-of-mind as you head to the grocery store. For help getting started, find more recipes and nutritional information by visiting GAPeanuts.com.
Flourless Blueberry Muffins
Recipe courtesy of The Peanut Institute
Servings: 12
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup blueberries
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease muffin pan.
- In blender or food processor, combine bananas, peanut butter, eggs and baking powder; blend until smooth. Fold in blueberries by hand.
- Pour mixture into muffin tin. Bake 12-15 minutes.
- Store in airtight container up to 3 days.
Nutritional information per serving: 155 calories, 10 g carbohydrates, 31 mg cholesterol, 2 g saturated fat, 9 g unsaturated fat, 2 g fiber, 6 g protein, 98 mg sodium, 5 g sugar.
Crunchy and Creamy Cold Green Pea and Peanut Salad
Recipe courtesy of The Peanut Institute
Servings: 8
Dressing:
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
Salad:
- 1 package (20 ounces) green peas, frozen
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1/3 cup red onions, chopped
- 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
- 6 slices thick cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 pinch salt, or to taste
- 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- To make dressing: In small mixing bowl, whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar and sugar.
- To make salad: In large mixing bowl, combine frozen green peas, celery and onion. Pour dressing over salad and toss to combine. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
- Before serving, stir in roasted peanuts and crumbled bacon. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Nutritional information per serving: 230 calories, 17 g carbohydrates, 12 mg cholesterol, 3 g saturated fat, 9 g unsaturated fat, 5 g fiber, 11 g protein, 249 mg sodium, 6 g sugar, 1 g added sugar.
Protein Balls
Recipe courtesy of The Peanut Institute
Servings: 24
- 1 cup chunky peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 cups quick oats
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup dried, chopped cranberries
- 1/8 teaspoon iodized salt
- 1/4 cup water
- Using stand mixer, combine peanut butter, vanilla, honey, quick oats, flaxseed, coconut, cranberries, salt and water; mix until well combined.
- Form dough into 1-ounce portions and refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.
Nutritional information per serving: 130 calories, 7 g fat, 14 g carbohydrates, 3 g protein, 2 g fiber, 60 mg sodium.
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Food and Beverage
Convenient, Crave-Worthy School Day Recipes to Get Kids Eating Healthy
School Day Recipes that are quick, healthy, and kid-approved—try Ants on a Log Salad plus Quick-Pickled Celery and Egg Salad for easy lunches and after-school bites.
Convenient, Crave-Worthy School Day Recipes to Get Kids Eating Healthy
(Feature Impact) During the rush of back-to-school season, parents need quick, efficient options to encourage healthy foods for their families without fielding moans and groans. That means choosing simple recipes that feature nourishing fruits, vegetables, proteins and healthy fats while still boasting kid-approved textures and flavors.
Keeping high-quality fresh produce in your kitchen, like Dandy Celery from Duda Farm Fresh Foods, means you’ll be ready to whip up nutritious yet convenient lunches, after-school snacks and dinners at a moment’s notice.
This Ants on a Log Salad recipe is a deconstructed mix-and-eat twist on a classic childhood favorite, while the Quick-Pickled Celery and Egg Salad elevates traditional egg salad into a fresh, tangy filling for sandwiches and wraps. Both recipes are creamy, crunchy and craveable with a well-balanced mix of nutrients to satisfy the appetites of busy families.
“Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated,” said Nichole Towell, senior director of marketing and new product development at Duda Farm Fresh Foods. “During the busy back-to-school season, simple choices like keeping fresh celery on hand can make it easier to build wholesome snacks and meals throughout the week. Its crisp texture, refreshing taste and versatility make it a favorite for families looking for easy ways to add more vegetables to their day.”
Find more easy school-day recipe ideas at DudaFresh.com.
Ants on a Log Salad
Total time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
- 1 apple, chopped
- 2 stalks Dandy Celery, chopped
- 3/4 cup non-dairy yogurt
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- Chop apple and celery into small, evenly shaped, bite-sized pieces. Add apple and celery pieces, yogurt, raisins and peanut butter to jar and shake well to combine or mix together in bowl. Serve.
Quick-Pickled Celery and Egg Salad
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 3
Quick-Pickled Celery:
- 1/3 cup hot water
- 2/3 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon whole peppercorns
- 1 1/2 cups sliced Dandy Celery, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (about 3 celery ribs)
- 1 sprig fresh dill
Egg Salad:
- 6 large eggs
- cold water
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup chopped pickled celery
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
- 1/4 teaspoon celery salt seasoning
- To make pickled celery: Use microwave or kettle to bring water to boil. Pour into large mason jar; add white vinegar, sugar, salt and peppercorns. Stir well to dissolve salt and sugar.
- Add celery and dill. Cover with lid and chill 1 hour to overnight.
- To make egg salad: Add eggs to medium saucepan and fill with cold water until eggs are covered. Over medium-high heat on stovetop, bring to boil. Turn off heat and cover with lid. Let sit 10 minutes. Drain and add eggs to bowl full of ice-cold water. Chill at least 10 minutes before peeling.
- Chop hardboiled eggs and add to mixing bowl. Add mayonnaise, pickled celery, green onion, mustard, hot sauce, tarragon and celery salt then stir to combine. Serve in sandwich or wrap, or with crackers.
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Make Summer Pop with a Super Snack
(Family Features) When it comes to summer snacking, it’s hard to top the combination of favorite seasonal flavors.
You can enjoy both the sweetness of freeze-dried strawberries and popped popcorn, a whole grain that’s 100% unprocessed with no additives, hidden ingredients or GMOs, in this three-ingredient Strawberries and Cream Popcorn recipe.
Just drizzle white chocolate over popped popcorn then sprinkle with ground freeze-dried strawberries for a perfectly delicious way to meld all your favorite flavors of summer into one easy, convenient snack.
Find more summer snacking solutions by visiting Popcorn.org.
Strawberries and Cream Popcorn
Recipe courtesy of The Popcorn Board
Servings: 4-6
- 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 6 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, melted
- In small food processor or spice grinder, pulse freeze-dried strawberries until finely ground. Place popped popcorn in large bowl. Drizzle melted chocolate over top; toss until well coated. Sprinkle evenly with ground freeze-dried strawberries; toss until well coated.
- Scrape onto large parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spreading into even layer.
- Let stand at room temperature 30-60 minutes, or until chocolate is set and hardened. To serve, break into pieces.
- Tips: To melt chocolate, place chocolate chips in heatproof bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring 3-5 minutes, or until smooth.
- To melt chocolate in microwave, place chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup. Microwave on medium, stirring every 30 seconds, for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth and melted.
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The beloved bite-sized favorite returns nationwide with new meal options and a social media twist
For years, KFC customers flooded social media with one simple request: Bring back Popcorn Chicken.
Now, after more than three years off the menu, the fast-food chain has answered that call. KFC announced the nationwide return of its iconic Popcorn Chicken, reviving one of the restaurant’s most requested menu items in recent memory.
Originally introduced in the early 1990s, Popcorn Chicken quickly became a favorite among fans who appreciated its crispy, bite-sized pieces that were perfect for dipping, sharing, or enjoying as a quick snack. The menu item disappeared from restaurants in 2023, sparking years of online petitions, comments, and customer requests asking for its return.
According to KFC, those voices did not go unheard.
“We read every comment, every DM, and even every online petition signature,” said Melissa Cash, Chief Marketing Officer for KFC U.S. “The message was impossible to ignore.”
The company says the return is part of its broader “Kentucky Fried Comeback” strategy, which focuses on reconnecting with longtime fans while introducing new ways for customers to engage with the brand.
Three Ways to Enjoy Popcorn Chicken
Customers can now order Popcorn Chicken in several different formats, while supplies last:
- $10 Popcorn Chicken Bucket – A 16-ounce bucket served with four dipping sauces, designed for sharing.
- Popcorn Chicken Big Box ($10.99) – Includes 6 ounces of Popcorn Chicken, two Original Recipe Tenders, medium fries, a medium drink, two dipping sauces, and a chocolate chunk cookie.
- Popcorn Chicken Combo ($8.49) – Features 6 ounces of Popcorn Chicken, medium fries, a medium drink, and one dipping sauce.
Prices and participation may vary by location.
More Than a Menu Item
KFC isn’t just bringing back the food—it is also embracing internet culture.
To celebrate the return, the company partnered with GIPHY to launch a collection of exclusive Popcorn Chicken-themed GIFs featuring Colonel Sanders. The animated reactions are designed to appear alongside the familiar “grab the popcorn” moments that dominate social media during sporting events, reality television, and other viral moments.
The campaign reflects how restaurants are increasingly extending product launches beyond the dining room by engaging customers through social media and digital platforms.
The Power of Nostalgia
The return of Popcorn Chicken highlights a growing trend across the restaurant industry: the revival of discontinued menu favorites.
Major restaurant chains have increasingly found success bringing back nostalgic products after years of customer demand. Limited-time returns often generate excitement on social media while encouraging longtime customers to revisit the brand.
For KFC, Popcorn Chicken represents more than just another menu option—it is a reminder of a product that helped define the chain for an entire generation of customers.
Whether enjoyed as a quick snack, paired with fries, or shared with family and friends, fans once again have the chance to enjoy one of KFC’s most recognizable comfort foods.
The returning menu item is available now at participating KFC restaurants nationwide while supplies last.
Why This Matters
The revival of Popcorn Chicken demonstrates how customer feedback—especially through social media—can directly influence menu decisions. Rather than relying solely on introducing new products, brands are increasingly looking to nostalgia and fan favorites to reconnect with loyal customers while attracting a new generation of diners.
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