National Nut Day
October 22
About National Nut Day
National Nut Day takes place on Thursday, 22 October 2026. The day celebrates nuts as a healthy, versatile snack and shines a light on the small-scale farmers who grow them. It is an annual invitation to enjoy almonds, walnuts, cashews and the rest, and to appreciate both their nutritional value and their place in our diets.
How to Celebrate National Nut Day
There are plenty of simple, tasty ways to mark the day, whether you are a dedicated snacker or just nut-curious.
- Build a nut mix – Combine your favourites, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans and pistachios, for a satisfying snack you can keep on hand all day.
- Swap a snack for nuts – Replace a less healthy mid-afternoon treat with a handful of unsalted nuts and feel the difference in your energy.
- Bake something nutty – Try a walnut loaf, almond biscuits or a pecan pie and fill the kitchen with a warm, toasty aroma.
- Make your own nut butter – Blitz roasted peanuts, almonds or cashews until smooth for a fresh, additive-free spread.
- Cook with nuts – Scatter toasted pine nuts over a salad, stir cashews into a curry or use ground almonds in a sauce for extra richness.
- Choose Fairtrade – Look for Fairtrade-certified nuts to support the small farmers the day was created to champion.
- Try a new variety – Pick up a nut you rarely eat, such as macadamias, brazils or hazelnuts, and discover a new favourite.
- Share the love – Post your nutty creations with the hashtag #NationalNutDay and encourage friends to snack a little smarter.
What is National Nut Day?
National Nut Day is a food and awareness day celebrating nuts in all their forms, from snacking favourites to baking staples. It encourages people to enjoy nuts as a healthier snack and draws attention to the collectives of small nut farmers around the world. The day is enjoyed by food lovers, health-conscious snackers and home cooks, and although it began in the United Kingdom it is now marked widely, especially in the United States.
When is National Nut Day?
National Nut Day is celebrated every year on 22 October. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday. The date is fixed, so it lands on 22 October each year regardless of the day of the week.
The History of National Nut Day
National Nut Day appeared in 2015 on the website of Liberation Foods, a British company. It was created to support the collectives of small nut farmers around the world and to raise awareness of Fairtrade nuts and the producers who grow them. The company chose the day to encourage people to celebrate nuts as a healthier snack option, combining a feel-good food focus with a genuine ethical message about fair pay for farmers.
Although it started in the UK, the day spread quickly and is now observed internationally, with particularly strong uptake in the United States. Retailers, health writers and snack brands have helped popularise it, sharing recipes, nutrition tips and offers each October.
Nuts themselves have a far longer story. According to the Nutcracker Museum, nuts have been part of the human diet for almost 800,000 years. The Greeks and Romans believed walnuts were a gift from the gods, and by the 18th century walnuts had reached California with Franciscan monks. If you enjoy wholesome, plant-based foods, you might also like International Falafel Day, another celebration of nutritious, globally loved fare.
Fun Facts About National Nut Day
- The day was created in 2015 by the UK company Liberation Foods to support Fairtrade nut farmers.
- Nuts have been part of the human diet for almost 800,000 years, according to the Nutcracker Museum.
- Eating around 30g of nuts a day has been linked to roughly a 30 per cent lower risk of major cardiovascular events in the PREDIMED trial.
- Almonds contain more fibre than any other nut.
- Walnuts have the highest content of the omega-3 fatty acid ALA of any edible plant.
- Botanically, peanuts are not true nuts at all but legumes.
Why National Nut Day Matters
The day pairs enjoyment with two serious messages: better snacking and fairer trade. Nuts are a nutrient-dense food linked to heart and brain health, and the research backs it up, with studies associating regular nut consumption with significantly lower cardiovascular risk. At the same time, the day reminds shoppers that behind every bag of nuts is a farmer, and that choosing Fairtrade helps those small producers earn a fair living.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Nut Day?
It is an annual day celebrating nuts as a healthy snack and raising awareness of the small-scale, often Fairtrade, farmers who grow them.
When is National Nut Day in 2026?
It takes place on Thursday, 22 October 2026. The date is fixed and falls on 22 October every year.
Who created National Nut Day?
It was created in 2015 by Liberation Foods, a UK company, to promote Fairtrade nuts and support small nut farmers around the world.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your favourite nutty snacks on social media with #NationalNutDay and #NationalNutDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to snack a little healthier!
Related Awareness Days
- National Peanut Butter Cookie Day – A sweeter celebration of one of the most popular nutty spreads.
- International Falafel Day – Another globally loved, plant-based food day for healthy-eating fans.
- National Shawarma Day – A nearby October food day celebrating another internationally cherished dish.
Links
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