The end of May is fast approaching, which means Memorial Day weekend is almost here. From May 25 to 27, many Americans will be traveling, hosting BBQs, or just hanging out at home by the pool. Whatever your plans, here are some tasty snacks to help you celebrate the long weekend!

Snack Baskets

The springtime gift basket is overflowing with 6 pounds of goodies that will bring a smile to anyone’s face. This basket includes: pastel chocolate berry mix, cashews, macadamia nuts, mixed nuts, strawberries, apricots, bridge mix, white chocolate cashews, pistachios, and veggie chips.

The extravagant BBQ gift basket is sure to get you ready for all your Memorial Day festivities! Inside you’ll find approximately 5 pounds of all our BBQ favorites, such as Kansas City BBQ almonds, BBQ cashews, BBQ corn nuts, dragon mix, hickory beef jerky, hickory soy beans, chili cheese corn twists, and our BBQ dry rub seasoning that is perfect for cooking.

Snack Packs

Snack packs contain the same product that you can buy by the pound, but they come in smaller sizes in packs of 12. For example, you can get a snack pack box of organic trail mix, which is a box of 12 individually packaged 3.2 ounce bags. These on-the-go packs are great for road trips during the Memorial Day weekend and throughout the rest of the summer. We offer snack packs for over 500 of our products, including our milk chocolate nuts, mixed fruit, and gummi bears.

Samplers

Not sure what exactly you want? Try a bunch of different types of tasty snacks with our samplers!

Our salty sampler has individual sample sized bags of many of your favorite salty snacks. It includes jumbo cashews, super Virginia peanuts, supreme mixed nuts, toasted corn, salted pistachios, homestyle pumpkin seeds, sesame sticks, edamame, salted sunflower seeds, and fried green peas.

You can also try our snacky sampler, which includes our power mix, vanilla granola, antioxidant mix, organic cacao goji energy squares, royal mix, extreme trail mix, GORP (good old raisins and peanuts), whole wheat raspberry bars, oriental mix, sesame sticks, and raw almonds.

What are your favorite on-the-go snacks?

There are so many things that you can make with ingredients from Nuts.com. Bake cookies, cakes, and breads. Create a candy buffet for your upcoming wedding reception or party. For a healthy boost, create your own delicious trail mix and smoothies!

When you create something with our products, we encourage you to take a photo and post it on our Facebook wall. We’ll add it to our Cool Customer Creations album! To get inspired, take a look at these five customer photos of their yummy treats.

“My son Isaac helps to make blenderized food to go into his g tube – with moringa, almonds and quinoa from Nuts.com!” – Kimberly Gould Crawley

Koren Lynch shared this photo of Nuts.com pink candy for her daughter’s princess pony party.

“Dried pears with melted chocolate and topped with walnuts. Pears and walnuts from nuts.com.” – Lisa Schae

“I love your pistachio flour! Here’s another creation that I made with it. Gluten free pistachio-lime sugar cookies!” – Amy Shaffer

“Cranberry white chocolate chip muffins!” - Serenity Palmer

For more ideas, see our previous post, 5 Customer Creations with Nuts.com Products!

We’re proud when our products are featured in print and on the web. They’ve been highlighted in wedding magazines like Martha Stewart Weddings, health publications like Prevention, and even a feature film (see below). We encourage you to try these star products for yourself!

1. Organic Peanut Butter Stock
Featured in: Prevention

This year, we received one of Prevention’s Cleanest Packaged Food Awards for our organic peanut butter stock, which is perfect for making organic peanut butter! According to Prevention, “The products we chose met some pretty strict standards: they’re all GMO-free, have no more than 10 g of added sugar, contain no more than 200 mg of sodium (400 for a meal)…finally, they had to be absolutely delicious.”

2. Hibiscus Flowers and Almond Paste
Featured in: Love & Olive Oil

The husband and wife team behind this blog about culinary adventures at home used our hibiscus flowers in their recipes for Hibiscus Mango Sorbet and Hibiscus Flower Enchiladas. Hibiscus flowers also make a great hot or cold tea. Love & Olive Oil also featured our almond paste in their recipe for Chocolate-Glazed Almond Horns, which looks mouth-wateringly delicious!

3) Salted Roasted Cashews
Featured in: Some Girl(s) film

Our salted roasted cashews showed off their thespian chops in the opening scene of Some Girl(s), which premiered this spring at SXSW. Watch a clip from the film. Roasted cashews are great for snacking or using in salads!

4) Sixlets and Gumballs
Featured in: Hostess with the Mostess

Hostess with the Mostess, a blog on modern entertaining, featured our sixlets and gumballs in a post about a sprinkles themed birthday party for a 10-year-old girl. The party included a tasty-looking yogurt bar. Sixlets are also a popular candy to feature in wedding candy buffets because they come in many gorgeous colors!

5) Wasabi Peanuts
Featured in: Health magazine, May 2013 issue

Health magazine’s May print issue features our wasabi peanuts in a piece called “8 Nutty Snacks Under 80 Calories.” Not only are they low in calories, but they’re also high in flavor! The spice of the wasabi will make your mouth tingle. These snacks are great for parties, because people can’t get enough of them!

For more featured products, see our previous post, 6 Featured Products You’ll Love.

Recently, customer Amanda Hoffman Robinson posted this question to the Nuts.com Facebook page:

I have a request. My husband is nuts for Nuts.com, and we have so many bags in the kitchen. I’d love it if you would have your customers post pictures of their storage solutions, to give me ideas of the most efficient way to store your products!

Plenty of other customers posted pictures of their nutty food storage ideas. We’ve created a Facebook album to showcase their solutions and would like to share a few here:

Joe Tuttolomondo stocks a whole kitchen cabinet with Nuts.com goodies. He writes, "We've officially gone NUTS!"

Gigi McClain stores jumbo peanuts in Ziploc bags and fills a cupboard with them! She says, "This is my 4th order of 25lbs of jumbo raw peanuts. I LOVE EM! I'm roasting some now."

Jamie Bull-Valeri writes, "How we store our nuts.com food!" Jamie fills jars with our products and prints out labels for them.

Vapor S Thompson dedicates a kitchen cabinet to our products. He writes, "Thanks for the fast shipping to Canada. Both offices are fully stocked with brain food now."

"Goin nutty over here!" writes Lynde B. Steensen, who stores her Nuts.com bags on her pantry shelves, some in small plastic tubs.

Simplify with a Daily PUSH writes, "This is how I store all of our nuts from Nuts.com" -- in OXO pop-top containers.

If you have food storage ideas to share, leave a comment or post a picture to the Nuts.com Facebook page!

Springtime kicks off a whole host of sports and activities. Whether you’re playing tennis, baseball, or lacrosse, going swimming or hiking, or taking a road trip during spring break, you need nutritious fuel to keep you going. If you’re packing snacks for your kids, you want them to eat something that’s good for them and tasty, too. Here are five healthy snacks on the go that are great for athletes and busy people.

1. Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is a favorite among folks of all ages. You’re sure to find a type that you like, whether it’s sweet dried kiwi, tangy goji berries full of antioxidants, or a berry mix. Our freeze-dried fruit contains no added sweeteners and deliciously melts in your mouth. And what kid (or kid at heart) doesn’t love fruit leather?

2. Energy Squares

Energy squares are a perfectly portable snack that give you a boost when you need it. They come in a variety of flavors, including honey vanilla and cranberry apricot. If you can’t decide on just one flavor, try our assorted energy squares!

3. Trail Mix

When you’re hungry on the go, trail mix sure hits the spot. Savor the classic Yogurt Trail Mix with nuts, dried fruit and yogurt chips; mix it up with the nutty, fruity Extreme Trail Mix with M&Ms; or get adventurous with our Thai Pineapple Sprouted Trail Mix that will tickle your palate with chile and lime! You can also put together your own custom trail mix to enjoy all of your favorite ingredients.

4. Active Lifestyle Sampler Pack

If you like to try a lot of different snacks, the Active Lifestyle Sampler Pack is for you. You’ll get 10 samples (around 2 oz. each) that include jumbo dried apricots, our antioxidant mix, and vanilla light and crunchy granola. This sampler pack will power you through the most high-energy days!

5. Beef Jerky

Packed with protein and flavor, our beef jerky is a great choice on a hike or car trip. This high quality jerky is fresh and chewy, and it will soothe a rumbling tummy. Try flavors like sweet & spicy, teriyaki, and BBQ jerky.

In our Health Nuts section, where we sort snacks by their health benefits, we have a category for energy boosting snacks. Take a look!

What are your favorite snacks on the go?

Ooey gooey, sweet and rich and buttery, caramel is an old-fashioned favorite. With National Caramel Day coming up on April 5, we’d like to highlight some of our favorite caramel candies and other caramel treats!

1.Mini Sea Salt Caramels

These miniature sized milk chocolates have a smooth and creamy caramel center that’s mixed with a touch of sea salt to deliver a burst of sweet and salt in each bite. Use Mini Sea Salt Caramels in baking in cookies or brownies, as toppings on frozen yogurt or ice cream, or just eat them on their own!

2. Caramel Puffs

These delicious Caramel Puffs have the airy texture of cheese puffs, but they’re sweet instead of savory. They’re coated with a light layer of caramel, resulting in a crispy, crunchy snack. They are so addictive, we could eat them all day!

3. Mini Milk Chocolate Caramel Cups

They look like tiny peanut butter cups, but these Mini Milk Chocolate Caramel Cups are filled with smooth caramel and coated with decadent milk chocolate. They’re great for baking in brownies or topping cakes and frozen yogurt, and all by themselves!

4. Old-Fashioned Caramels

Unwrapping one of these chewy caramels is like stepping back into your childhood. Sink your teeth into this chewy treat and savor its buttery goodness! Caramels are great for baking, as well as enjoying on their own.

5. Caramel Corn

Caramel Coated Popcorn is a classic for good reason! Fluffy popcorn is coated in smooth caramel for a satisfyingly crunchy, chewy snack. Try Chocolate Covered Caramel Popcorn for an extra-rich treat. We also carry Sugar-Free Caramel Corn.

See our complete selection of caramel candies and other caramel goodies, such as Caramel Vanilla Coffee. Which caramel treats are your favorites?

It’s that time of year where everyone seems to be coming down with something. We wrote earlier this week about how you can fight off spring colds by eating immunity-boosting foods such as blueberries, wheat germ and pumpkin seeds.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we still end up catching whatever is going around. If you’re feeling under the weather, give yourself a little extra TLC with these soothing cold remedies.

1. Menthol Throat Drops

Don’t let that cold hold you back. Our throat drops are available in three tasty flavors – honey lemon, cherry eucalyptus and menthol eucalyptus – to ease the pain of coughs and sore throats.

2. Chamomile Tea

Nothing is more comforting when you’re sick than a big mug of hot chamomile tea. Chamomile is known for encouraging sleepiness, so it will help your body get the rest it need to recover. Drink it with a bit of honey and lemon or mint, bundle up in bed with warm blankets and get some shut-eye.

3. Vitamin C

Studies have shown that vitamin C may help reduce the incidence, duration and severity of the common cold. If you are coming down with symptoms of a cold, try adding vitamin C powder to your morning tea or smoothie. Continue to take a small serving after you’ve recovered to keep your immune system strong.

4. Crystallized Ginger

Ginger has long been a home remedy to strengthen the immune system and to treat nausea, indigestion and colds. Eat a few small pieces of crystallized ginger and enjoy its sweet-and-spicy flavor, as well as its natural healing properties .

What are your favorite cold remedies? Share in the comments!

As the weather changes and your mood brightens with the sunshine, your nose may also start to run when you catch a spring cold.

“Many things change with weather changes,” says Dr. Tom Campbell, M.D., at the University of Rochester, in an article in Men’s Health. “When you have a hurricane, tropical storm, or even a significant thunderstorm, you can have a drop in atmospheric pressure… putting you at risk for developing [flu-like] symptoms.”

In addition to washing your hands frequently, you can help ward off spring colds by eating immunity-boosting foods. Here are a few to try:

1.Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants found in any fruit. Antioxidants help the body protect itself against diseases and cell damage. Blueberries are high in fiber and Vitamin C, and they have a number of health benefits, including improving vision, clearing arteries, strengthening blood vessels, enhancing memory, and managing weight. Use these slightly sweet dried blueberries in cereals, cakes, muffins, salads, or just eat them as a snack!

2. Matcha Green Tea

Matcha green tea contains more antioxidants than virtually any other food, including Acai berries and pomegranates. It also contains high levels of L-theanine, an amino acid which lowers stress levels but preserves alertness. Mix it with hot water to make green tea, or flavor yogurt or ice cream.

3. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds contain zinc, which inhibits viruses from replicating and can shorten the duration of colds and flu. They also contain tryptophan, the same substance found in turkey, which produces feel-good seratonin and eases anxiety. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds in your yogurt or salads, or pop a handful into your mouth. For an extra kick, try spicy or tamari pumpkin seeds.

4. Wheat Germ

The germ of the wheat seed is highly concentrated with nutrients, including niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and immune-boosting choline and zinc. It’s perfect for baking or toasting on your own to make a breakfast cereal. Sprinkle on breads, cereals, and in smoothies and try it raw or toasted.

5. Noni Powder

Organic noni powder is loaded with antioxidants, polysaccarhides, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. This superfood is pure noni, with no additives. Use organic noni powder to make noni juice, or mix 1 tbsp daily into smoothies, yogurt, juices, or nut milks.

Find more foods to fight your spring cold in this article from ABC News. Which immune-boosting foods work best for you?

This March marks the 40th anniversary of National Nutrition Month, giving us one more good reason to make smart eating choices. The theme for 2013 is “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day,” and encourages us all to find healthy diet and physical activity habits that work for our lifestyle.

Here are a few healthy eating tips for National Nutrition Month from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

Eat Breakfast

“There’s no better way to start your morning than with a healthy breakfast.”

Wake up right with a nutritious meal that will fill you up and give you energy and focus for the day ahead. Browse some of our favorite healthy breakfast foods.

Fix Healthy Snacks

“Healthy snacks can sustain your energy levels between meals.”

Satisfy your hunger with smart snacking choices, including these ideas recommended by the Academy:

• Popcorn topped with grated parmesan cheese
• Parfait with yogurt, fruit and granola
• Celery sticks topped with peanut butter and raisins

Cook Balanced Meals

“Cook more often at home, where you are in control of what’s in your food.”

Cooking your own meals allows you to be an active participant in what you eat, plus it’s a fun way to explore new flavors and foods. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends making half of your plate fruits and vegetables, varying protein choices to include seafood, nuts and beans and opting for 100 percent whole-grain breads, cereals, crackers, pasta and brown rice.

What are your personal tips for eating a healthy diet? Happy National Nutrition Month!

Explore a new cooking frontier with healthy cooking powders.  These superpowders boast nutritional superpowers, and we’ve got the scoop on them all!

1. Chlorella

Chlorella is an emerald green single-celled freshwater algae that grows naturally in lakes and ponds.  It’s full of cleansing chlorophyll and made up of at least 60% crude protein.  Chlorella’s nutrients include all nine essential amino acids, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and Vitamin E.  Whoa!  Who knew nature could pack so much into a single-celled algae!

Chlorella’s powerful nutrients make it a natural detoxifying agent, immunity-booster, hypertension reliever, and infection fighter.

Chlorella’s taste is similar to that of green tea and adds a subtle flavor to smoothies, salad dressings, sauces, juices, pesto, and guacamole.  You can also get more creative and whip up green eggs & ham!

2. Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that commonly grows in freshwater lakes and ponds.  It’s considered a complete protein because it contains an ideal balance of all 9 essential amino acids.  This superfood is also loaded with vitamins A through E, iron, potassium, and antioxidants.  It has 26 times as much calcium as milk and is a more potent antioxidant than blueberries.

Health benefits of this superpowder may include a boost in metabolism, blood pressure stabilization, and a decrease in LDL cholesterol.

Like chlorella, you can add spirulina to smoothies, juices, sauces, dressings, and guacamole.  Or, for the more adventurous cooks, try it in a spirulina pate or a chia spirulina fresca.

3. Maca Powder

Maca powder is made from maca, an adaptogenic root known for its dynamic natural effects, including boosts in energy, relief from stress, and increases in libido.  Adding maca to your daily diet can promote better endocrine system health and may even relieve ulcers, mild depression, and menopause symptoms.

Maca powder is high in protein, boasting 4 grams in just ½ ounce.  It also serves up a dose of calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, and seven essential amino acids.

Maca has a mild taste that blends well into baked goods, such as breads, pancakes, and muffins.  Just add maca to your baking flour and mix well!  You can also sprinkle maca over your food or stir it into juice, smoothies, or yogurt.

4. Moringa Powder

Moringa leaf powder is one of nature’s most nutritious foods, filled with nutrients and antioxidants.  The powder contains seven times the Vitamin C found in oranges, four times the beta carotene of carrots, three times the iron of spinach, four times as much calcium as milk, three times the potassium of bananas and more fiber than oats.

This superpowder couldn’t be easier to use!  Just mix a teaspoon into juice, beverages, smoothies, or yogurt.

5. Acai Powder

Our organic acai powder is made from super-fruit acai berries, which have more antioxidants than almost any other fruit.  The powder also contains high levels of fatty acids, amino acids, and dietary fiber.

Acai powder is a feisty fighter of free radicals.  The nutritional benefits are preserved in the freeze-drying process of preparing our powder.

Mix the powder into smoothies, fruit juices, yogurt, and desserts for a slightly tart, tropical taste.

6. Wheatgrass Powder

This powder is made of all natural wheatgrass, a potent leafy green vegetable.  Our non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) wheatgrass powder is chock full of beta-carotene, calcium, chlorophyll, fiber, iron, and vitamin K.

Preliminary studies on wheatgrass powder suggest that wheatgrass may help to reduce total cholesterol.  Wheatgrass powder may also detoxify, increase metabolism, reduce highblood pressure, and act as a natural sleep aid.

Wheatgrass powder has a slightly grassy taste with a hint of sweetness.  Mix a tablespoon of wheatgrass powder with juice, smoothie, or water, or sprinkle the powder into a creamy salad dressing.