Lets talk Peanut butter?

OAS5

Throughout my fat loss of 73 pounds or so my biggest guilty pleasure has been peanut butter. Typically 2 spoon fulls plain, not on bread or with jelly, just peanut butter spoon fulls. Then I kinda feel guilty and lay off for a few days or weeks. So its high in calories and fat but low in saturated fat. What is your overall take on peanut butter and losing weight? Should I feel bad after eating peanut butter a few days in a row?

LyndaBSS

You shouldn't feel bad for eating any food. If it's working for you, and it obviously is, go for it. 👍

gallicinvasion

1. Don’t let food make you feel bad! I know it’s hard, but it’s just food. There’s no moral judgment attached.

2. I literally eat 34 g (2 Tbsp) of peanut butter every single day after dinner. In the past year I have lost 100 lbs and started to maintain that loss steadily. As long as the 190 or 200 calorie serving fits in your calorie target for the day, there’s no harm in having peanut butter. (I always weigh it on a food scale to make sure I’m accurate in logging how much I’m eating).

DancingMoosie

I eat it. Sometimes I would eat peanuts straight from the jar as I drank coffee, staring at the TV, or jif whips scooped with pretzel sticks and topped with dark chocolate chips. Jif naturals crunchy is my favorite now. Plain with a spoon, or with apple slices or banana, it's just too good!

MikePTY

I eat peanut butter and jelly a lot while I'm losing weight. As long as it fits in your calories, there is nothing at all to feel guilty about.

JeromeBarry1

Today I had Blue Bell Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough ice cream and exceeded my protein needs and stayed within my calorie budget. That is a win.

wilson10102018

Love peanut butter. Jif extra crunchy. SO I get some rice crackers and put a little PB on each one. I weigh the jar before and after and never get to 58g before I am satisfied with the snack. They are dense, but also very satisfying.

sardelsa

I have it on my toast every morning. When losing, maintaining or gaining. Why would you feel guilty about it? Do you feel guilty about any other higher calorie foods you eat?

maureenkhilde

I love peanut butter as well. And I weigh it out. Me Skippy Natural Creamy hits the spot. Have several times a week.

JenniferM1234

Ah, peanut butter is my Waterloo. I’m glad you guys can eat two tablespoons of it and put it away...but I know myself, and I “can’t.” Too many times in my yo-yo diet life, dipping into a jar of Jif Extra Crunchy has been the first step on the path to a weeklong overeating/carb heavy mistake!

So sadly, until I learn to control myself, peanut butter is off the menu.

nighthawk584

my guilty pleasure is peanut butter mixed with maple syrup. If you haven't tried this, it is incredible. Don't feel guilty. It's a good source of protein I too have lost 73 plus lbs so far.

apullum

How to tell whether or not to eat a food:
Does it fit your calories?
Are you getting your macros?
Is it okay for any medical conditions you have?
Do you enjoy it?

If you answer yes to all of the above, eat it.

geraldaltman

I won't/don't judge. I will just say what I do and you can take it for what you feel it's worth. Under no circumstances would I ever give up peanut butter, especially in a sandwich with jelly/jam. However, I have recognized and yielded to certain elements of my situation. I only buy PB brands that are of significantly reduced amounts of sugar. My favored choices are Simply Jif or Peter Pan Whipped Creamy (depending on which costs less when I buy). My jams if you will are preserves that are sugar free or reduced sugar. Lately I have been buying Polaner brands. I also have been using far less than recommended servings as I learned that less actually tastes just as good as more and it's lasts longer!

nicnz

In agreement with the above staments, that if you enjoy, why not eat it (in moderation, it's a very healthy source of fats and protein 👍)

Like many of you here I am a massive PB fan 😋😍 but do find it terribly challenging to control myself once the jar is open. I always buy the no added sugar varieties which are much more common in the shops here now than the cheap sugar-added options (NZ).
It's extra plastic around the house but am finding a small bag of roasted chopped nuts does the trick, and it's much easier to stop for me strangely enough....or roasting my own peanuts (cheaper) and taking them all to work for breakfast/snacks.

Jrodasff

I crush peanut butter throughout the day. Tons of it in a protein shake, large TBS with an Apple, spread all over kodiak pancakes, just by itself. Love it

vaman

JenniferM1234 wrote: »

Ah, peanut butter is my Waterloo. I’m glad you guys can eat two tablespoons of it and put it away...but I know myself, and I “can’t.” Too many times in my yo-yo diet life, dipping into a jar of Jif Extra Crunchy has been the first step on the path to a weeklong overeating/carb heavy mistake!

So sadly, until I learn to control myself, peanut butter is off the menu.

I'm in the same boat...In fact I no longer even have any in my house 🤐

OAS5

Thanks guys, I feel guilty or maybe slightly nervous is it puts me up close to my fat count for the day. That's the only reason. Thanks for all the responses.

paperpudding

Cavallaro65 wrote: »

Throughout my fat loss of 73 pounds or so my biggest guilty pleasure has been peanut butter. Typically 2 spoon fulls plain, not on bread or with jelly, just peanut butter spoon fulls. Then I kinda feel guilty and lay off for a few days or weeks. So its high in calories and fat but low in saturated fat. What is your overall take on peanut butter and losing weight? Should I feel bad after eating peanut butter a few days in a row?

My personal take on peanut butter is that I dont like it much.

I do not have any in my house and cannot remember the last time I ate any.

But that's just me.

Eat any food you like for as many days in a row as you like as long as it fits in your calories and you dont eat so much that your diet is becoming nutritionally unbalanced

acpgee

It's not the texture of peanut butter and it's processed but I find lower caloriy PB2 works well as a replacement in recipes calling for peanut butter such as satay sauce for grilled meats, West African peanut soup, asian peanut/sesame noodles, bang bang chicken.

Luke_rabbit

As others said, I really like PB2 in cooking and also in smoothies. I find that I have to keep it in the fridge after opening.

I eat peanut butter a few times a week. Smuckers natural (peanuts, salt) is my favorite. Has to initially be stirred and then kept in the fridge because it doesn't contain any preservatives. I don't like the peanut butters with added sugar (Jif, Skippy, etc); I find them too sweet.

My cholesterol and triglycerides are very healthy, so I don't pay much attention to my fat macro. I think I eat about 25% - 30% fat.

My husband eats peanut butter every day and his lipid profile is also normal.

HollyPFlax

I eat peanut butter all the time, almost every day. After work, I come home briefly to change. Then I head to the barn to ride or the gym to lift weight. Both take about 2 1/2 hours. I needed to find a small snack that would keep me full. Peanut butter has a really nice mix of fat, sugar, and a little bit of protein. The texture even feels like it coats my stomach and I don't need to eat anything else. How do I do it without gaining weight? I weigh out 16.5 grams, which is half a serving, or 95 calories. Those are factored into my total for the day and usually logged ahead of time.

Joanna2012B

I would never give up Peanut Butter, I just fit it into my calories.

kshama2001

nighthawk584 wrote: »

my guilty pleasure is peanut butter mixed with maple syrup. If you haven't tried this, it is incredible. Don't feel guilty. It's a good source of protein I too have lost 73 plus lbs so far.

I'd classify PB as a good source of calories and fat, with a protein bonus, rather than as a good source of protein. There are far more efficient ways to get protein.



Since getting a food scale, I go through PB far less quickly.

I'll have to try the maple syrup thing some time. I like PB with bacon.

jwoolman5

I consider peanut butter as good food - it contributes protein, fiber, and good fat. I would advise not worrying about higher fat for the day if it is coming from plant foods rather than animal foods. All fats are not alike.

Peanut butter has always been very safe for me (I have food allergies, so that's important!). I now alternate with seed and nut butters.

You can get peanut butter with nothing added but salt or without salt entirely. I also get whole peanuts in the shell that have been roasted but are unsalted, likewise for some nut and seed butters. They don't have gobs of salt to worry about, but I like the unsalted taste.

One recent discovery is peanut or nut or seed butter on those little 0.5 gram sheets of roasted seaweed (I have Gimmee Organic ones, come in packs of ten or more sheets). I got a free pouch of squeezable almond butter and was inspired to try it (gloppy butters work most easily on those thin nori sheets) and it is really good! Messy, but tasty. I will make a little sandwich out of two sheets or roll them up. Still messy, so use a plate. I put a lot on, though, so if you use less - might be less messy.

Peanut butter etc. also goes well with any crunchy veg in sandwiches or on crackers or without a carrier. Chopped onions and carrots are wonderful with it. Also broccoli (broccoli slaw works great in sandwiches), shredded cabbage or cabbage leaves, any lettuce, and of course pickles. I prefer denser breads or pitas for such concoctions, or any kind of wrap. Coconut wraps also work even with savory. Big leaves of lettuce or cabbage can also be used for wraps.

healingnurtrer

You aren't doing anything bad when you eat peanut butter. So why feel guilty? Maybe you are being too critical/ perfectionistic with yourself. These feelings aren't helping you, I hope you can let them go. It's ok to eat food you enjoy.

(You are probably doing this but: I would recommend weighing it on a food scale to make sure you are logging it correctly.)

Congrats on your weight loss!

pinuplove

Cavallaro65 wrote: »

Thanks guys, I feel guilty or maybe slightly nervous is it puts me up close to my fat count for the day. That's the only reason. Thanks for all the responses.

What's your macro split? There's nothing wrong with eating a little more fat as long as it isn't crowding out protein and other nutrients. I eat on the high side because fat is satiating for me. Sort of the opposite of a volume-eater.

aries68mc

I eat a tbls occasionally. Either just straight, or will put it on celery or whole grain bread or crackers. I also make my own peanut butter, from just...peanuts! So much better than store bought, and I know what is in it.

VegjoyP

I am really happy to see this post. I avoid peanut butter because it's a " trigger food" however after joining MFP, I have realized the power behind a food scale and calories even though I have been doing this since I was 12!
I agree we should not exclude things we enjoy if it fits into our regimine. Peanut butter is love! This may motivate me to go to Whole Foods and get the fresh natural in grinder.
One thing I have found really helps keep track and makes it convenient is when I buy a jar of but butter, coconut manna, nuts and other calorie dense products I measure out portion sizes and put them in sample cups. It's like the packets of but butter at stores only less expensive.

erickirb

nighthawk584 wrote: »

my guilty pleasure is peanut butter mixed with maple syrup. If you haven't tried this, it is incredible. Don't feel guilty. It's a good source of protein I too have lost 73 plus lbs so far.

not really a good source of protein. it is a good source of fat, that also has some protein. Still, don't feel guilty about it. if it fits your calorie goal, then no worries.

AnnPT77

I eat it every day, but it's a particularly difficult food to eyeball or spoon-measure accurately because it's so calorie dense. What I do it put the jar on my scale, make sure it's zeroed, then scoop out my peanut butter. The negative number on the scale is the amount I took out: Accurate, and no extra dishes to wash. (You know I'm gonna lick the spoon. ).

It's fine to go over your fat macro, as long as you aren't letting it drive out needed protein or veggie/fruit servings on a regular basis. Some people find fats more satiating, so it can be helpful to them to spend any extra calories on fats rather than carbs or over-goal protein grams.

Enjoyment FTW!

xSanoura

Personally I love peanut/almond butters! I go for a simple one (not full of additional oils/sugars).
I keep a jar in my locker and if I’m hangry or need a pick me up, I’ll eat a spoonful.