For Filipinos balancing busy schedules with the desire to eat more thoughtfully, California Raisins offer a simple way to add natural sweetness and nutritional value to everyday meals.
At the recent “Raisin Everyday Energy w/ California Raisins” event, James Beard Awardee Erwan Heussaff and registered nutritionist-dietitian Jo Sebastian demonstrated how the versatile ingredient can be incorporated into familiar dishes, from quick sandwiches to classic Filipino favorites.
Small Sweetness, Big Possibilities
California Raisins are naturally sweet with no added sugar. A ¼-cup serving contains 26 grams of natural sugar and 32 grams of carbohydrates, along with 2 grams of dietary fiber and 298 milligrams of potassium. They are also naturally low in sodium and contain no fat or cholesterol, making them a convenient ingredient to include as part of a balanced diet.
“California Raisins offer more than natural sweetness. They provide important nutrients that can contribute to the energy we need throughout the day,” said Thomas Wee, Regional Director of Lieu Marketing Associates for the Raisin Administrative Committee.
Erwan put their versatility into practice with two recipes: a Raisin Tuna Sandwich made with tuna, eggs, mustard, calamansi, celery, onion, and herbs on sourdough, and Pininyahang Manok with California Raisins, combining chicken, pineapple, bell peppers, cabbage, and raisins.
Simple Ideas For Everyday Meals
Jo Sebastian also shared practical meal-planning tips, showing how staples such as bread, eggs, meat, vegetables, and fruit can be combined into simple, balanced meals that can take as little as 10–15 minutes to prepare.
From breakfast and lunch to merienda and dinner, California Raisins can be easily added to meals that Filipinos already know and enjoy. Available at major supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide, they are a convenient pantry staple for adding variety, natural sweetness, and nutritional goodness to everyday cooking.
