POWER UP YOUR LUNCH ROUTINE WITH WALNUTS

A healthy diet is a solution to all our health problems. Today, everyone lives a busy life, and the concept of lunch is slowly diminishing. However, its importance cannot be declined. A midday break is more important than many of us realize. Stepping away and fuelling up with a nutritious meal is the best way to come back energized and ready to tackle the rest of the day. Walnuts are a versatile nut that pairs well with many ingredients to make your meal wholesome and fulfilling. Better yet, walnuts provide key nutrients like protein (4g), fiber (2g) and ALA omega-3 fatty acids (2.5g), making them a simple yet powerful addition to any lunch.

Check out these quick and easy ways to incorporate walnuts into your lunchtime meals:

• Walnut Dal Paratha – We always have leftover food from dinner. Mix the leftover dal with flour and finely ground walnuts to make the wholesome dough. Make it like a normal roti which can be savoured with yogurt. Both walnuts and dal are a good source of protein, and a bowl of yogurt with it is an awesome combination. 
• Walnut Pudina Rice – This one of the easiest dishes to make. Toss some rice with mint leaves, veggies, and toasted walnuts, and your lunch is ready. This goes well with walnut cucumber raita.
• Walnut BesanCheela–Mix together the chickpea flour, veggies, coarsely chopped walnuts, and mild spice and make it like your regular savoury pancake. Savour this with some walnut chutney. You can never go wrong with this one.
• Power Bowl Topper – Toasted walnuts offer just the right amount of flavour and crunch alongside grains, veggies, and leafy greens.
• Go-To Trail Mix Nut – Switch up your trail mix recipe by adding in walnuts for an extra crunch with omega-3’s (2.5g). They’re the perfect addition to your box lunch!

Aioli & Pesto – Toss walnuts into a food processor with arugula or basil and olive oil or mayo for a quick walnut aioli or pesto. The spreads are a perfect flavour booster for wraps, sandwiches, or as a dip.

• Plant-Based Meat Alternative – Pulse walnuts and mushrooms, cauliflower or beans through a food processor with the desired seasoning for a delectable meat replacement in chili, tacos, pasta sauce, and more.

• Spice Up Your Snacks – If you are more of a midday snacker than a lunch eater, consider seasoned walnuts for a quick pick-me-up. Toss them in honey, rosemary and extra virgin olive oil, maple syrup, or even cayenne pepper before toasting – and voila! – a delicious homemade snack or alternative to croutons on your salad.

The latest “Power of 3” initiative by California walnuts aims to educate consumers about how eating walnuts is a simple way to boost overall nutrition, worth sharing with friends and family in the spirit of love this February. The core objective of this campaign is to highlight the importance of omega-3 ALA, an essential fatty acid that walnuts are uniquely rich in. So, grab a handful of these golden nuts today and power up your boring lunch meals with the nutrition and crunch of delicious California walnuts!