Peanut butter v Almond butter

madre715

I’ve researched both peanut butter (pb) and almond butter (an) for calories, fat and protein. The big deal seems to be ab over pb but I don’t see enough of a significant difference to see what the big deal is about ab. Any thoughts on this to help me? Thanks.

WholeFoods4Lyfe

What is this big deal that you speak of? I don't care for Almond Butter so I do eat Peanut Butter occasionally.

lemurcat2

I like both* (also other nut butters), so eat both, as well as walnut butter, etc.

In general, I think a more diverse diet tends to be better, so choosing between potatoes and sweet potatoes or between spinach and kale or what not based on which is supposedly "the best" is usually not worthwhile, as they have different nutrients making both good to have in the overall diet, and I'd say the same thing about peanuts and almond (and their butters). Plus, it just makes the diet more interesting. If you don't like one of them, obv don't eat it, however, it's not going to matter.

*Weirdly, I was not a fan of peanut butter taste-wise (although I liked peanuts) until quite recently. On a whim I picked up a jar (one of the peanuts and salt only ones) and decided it would be tasty with banana (something else I was down on) in a smoothie and have now decided I really like it, although I still like almond butter a bit better.

DaddieCat

cmriverside

Yeah, WNB?

Almond butter = $8
Peanut butter = $2

So there is that.

I buy bulk raw almonds and just eat them whole. I used peanut butter for spreading and snacking with fruit.

MikePTY

You are correct that nutritionally, they are very close to identical. If you have a taste preference, go with one of those. If not, I would go with the cheaper one, which I assume would be peanut butter.

As to why almond butter is trendy as a "healthier" version of peanut butter? Who knows. Lots of things because trendy for reasons not based in science.

ktekc

Alternative for people with peanut allergies as well.

quiksylver296

MikePTY wrote: »

You are correct that nutritionally, they are very close to identical. If you have a taste preference, go with one of those. If not, I would go with the cheaper one, which I assume would be peanut butter.

As to why almond butter is trendy as a "healthier" version of peanut butter? Who knows. Lots of things because trendy for reasons not based in science.

That^^

Peanut butter, because it's cheaper and it tastes better.

cdudley628

I used to eat almond butter because peanut butter (and peanuts) was a major GERD trigger for me. Luckily my GERD hasn't been as bad recently and I can go back to eating my cheap peanut butter. I prefer the taste of peanut butter as well.

missysippy930

I like raw almonds, but I don’t care for almond butter. Growing up, my sibs would have pb&j sandwiches, I only wanted jelly, no pb. Now I love pb on toast with sliced bananas. Prefer peanut butter over other nut butters.
Not much difference nutritionally or calorie wise, so enjoy what you like.

Priasmama416

Cost wise I prefer peanut butter, try Simply Jif, it has less sugar than most peanut butters, and is gluten free

nighthawk584

i prefer blue diamond almonds & creamy peanut butter...almond butter is overpriced!

lemurcat2

nighthawk584 wrote: »

i prefer blue diamond almonds & creamy peanut butter...almond butter is overpriced!

You can make it easily with almonds (and peanut butter easily with peanuts). My store-bought versions were the same price, but I could have found peanut butter easily, probably (I only like the kind that's only peanuts and salt, however).

cwolfman13

madre715 wrote: »

I’ve researched both peanut butter (pb) and almond butter (an) for calories, fat and protein. The big deal seems to be ab over pb but I don’t see enough of a significant difference to see what the big deal is about ab. Any thoughts on this to help me? Thanks.

Not sure what "big deal" you are referring to. They are both nut butters...they are both healthy choices. There is very little difference in nutritional profile. To me this is kind of like when people tout the sweet potato as a super food and a regular potato as "bad" food...but when you look at the nutritional profile, they are pretty equivalent. The bottom line is people who make things a "big deal" often don't really know much of anything about nutrition and just go along with the masses and whatever is hot and trendy in the media.

I prefer PB, but only keep AB at the house because I have a boy that is very allergic to peanuts.

lynn_glenmont

Almonds are a better source of vitamin E and calcium, so there's that. I keep both in the house most of the time, because I like them in different applications.

kristen8000

I feel that other than taste they are the same. And when one is $2 and the other is sometimes close to $10, I'll pick PB. If you aren't allergic to one or the other I'd just eat the one you want because they are pretty equal in nutrients.

AngryViking1970

I find almond butter to be kind of bland, so I usually opt for toasted soy nut butter or just regular PB.

kshama2001

I'm sure my mother and my aunt have an extremely scientifically valid reason why almond butter is better.

</sarcasm>

glassyo

Cookie butter > sunflower seed butter > peanut butter > almond butter

kimny72

I think almond butter got a glow up back when all the articles about which nuts were "heart healthy" started, and almonds and walnuts were attributed superfood status, for better or worse.

lemurcat2

My suspicion is the anti-peanut sentiment is certain corners is related to them being legumes, not nuts, as there are some (paleo, I blame you) who insist that legumes should be avoided (which is, well, nuts, since beans and lentils are also legumes and also quite nutrient dense and good for you).

They have different nutrients, of course, in some ways (peanuts are great for folate, almonds have the edge on Vit E and fiber, peanuts have more protein), much as spinach and kale do, or potatoes and sweet potatoes do. This is why I think it's best to consume all the different nuts (and peanuts) one likes -- although not all on one day, of course, and limit quantities since they are all high cal. Whether whole or in nut butter form makes no difference.

Since I love most nuts and peanuts and different nut butters, this works well for me.

JennDoingTheThing

I just like the taste of almond butter better. I love almonds, but can't eat them because they're too hard for my very sensitive teeth. Almond butter just makes total sense to me. I don't know why people demonize peanut butter though.. unless you have allergies to it.

aries68mc

I like both, and prefer to make them rather than buy them premade. This makes them both even more healthy without all the additives, etc the manufacturers put in them. They both have distinctively different tastes.

hesn92

I don't know but it annoys me when people act like almonds are this superior healthy nut and suggest "a handful of almonds" if you're hungry in between meals etc. Almonds suck. They don't taste good. PB wins for me although cashews and pecans are even better (although I haven't tried pecan butter, that sounds delightful)

lemurcat2

aries68mc wrote: »

I like both, and prefer to make them rather than buy them premade. This makes them both even more healthy without all the additives, etc the manufacturers put in them. They both have distinctively different tastes.

I think making them can be the most cost-effective option, and I like to do that too, sometimes, but you can buy them without anything but peanuts and salt or almonds and salt (and probably without salt too, I simply haven't looked for that).

lemurcat2

hesn92 wrote: »

I don't know but it annoys me when people act like almonds are this superior healthy nut and suggest "a handful of almonds" if you're hungry in between meals etc. Almonds suck. They don't taste good. PB wins for me although cashews and pecans are even better (although I haven't tried pecan butter, that sounds delightful)

I think almonds and almond butter are delicious, but if people are acting like almonds are some superior nut, that is silly. I haven't seen that yet (although I do recall when walnuts were supposed to be the best nut). I have seen anti peanut sentiment, as noted above.

Savannahmiamaddie

I usually buy peanut butter because it costs less. One concern I have about almonds, in general, is the negative impact of large scale almond farming. I am an amateur bee keeper. I recently learned that every year semi-truck loads of bees are shipped to California to pollinate the trees. A lot of the bees are killed due to the use of pesticides, fungicides and the stress of shipping them.

https://www.honeycolony.com/article/california-almonds-killing-bees/

mmapags

I like both. I do limit peanut butter though. The reason is to limit exposure to aflotoxin, a mold that can form on peanuts and isn't reduced by heating. The risk in peanuts grown in the U.S. is not very high but is higher in peanuts from developing countries in tropical climates. I live in southern Mexico.

mi_nina_lola

costco almond butter - my personal nut butter crack . delicious compared to other almond butters i've had before. i'm not a fan of peanut butter.

staticsplit

Almonds are quite water intensive, so pb is cheaper and I think more environment friendly. There's a shop near me where I can get it freshly ground in a reusable glass container, so I do that.

kshama2001

JennDoingTheThing wrote: »

I just like the taste of almond butter better. I love almonds, but can't eat them because they're too hard for my very sensitive teeth. Almond butter just makes total sense to me. I don't know why people demonize peanut butter though.. unless you have allergies to it.

Probably because PB is cheap and common