Kansas State University Dining Services partnered with the National Peanut Board (NPB) to celebrate National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day on campus with a two-day pop-up, held April 1-2, 2026. The activation was designed by NPB to engage students and showcase a variety of menu possibilities.
A PB&J station featured four creative must-try sandwich varieties, encouraging students to sample and vote for their favorite through a K-State Dining Instagram poll. The lineup included:
- The Sweet and Spicy PB&J: Peanut butter paired with orange marmalade and a kick of Sriracha
- The TikTok-Made-Me-Do-It PB&J: A surprising mix of peanut butter, pickles and honey
- The PB&J Crunch Bomb: Peanut butter, strawberry jam, pretzels and granola for added texture
- The Apple of My PB: A wholesome blend of peanut butter, honey and fresh apple slices
NPB also distributed branded swag at the pop-up, and students participated in the “Can You Crack the Peanut Count?” contest, guessing how many in-shell peanuts were in a container for a chance to win jars of peanut butter.
The event demonstrates how a familiar favorite like peanut butter and jelly can be reimagined to drive participation and interest in campus dining. The PB&J station format also lends itself to a self-serve model, where students can build their own creations, share them on social media and participate in additional contests, such as most creative or most craveable sandwich.
While the pop-up was designed to celebrate National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day, the format can be easily replicated year-round, giving operators a simple way to drive engagement with peanuts any day of the week.
Download the National Peanut Board’s free campus dining guidebook to learn more on how campus dining teams safely and successfully incorporate peanuts into menus while supporting students through clear allergen communication, staff training and thoughtful menu planning.
