Natural Peanut Butter vs Regular Peanut Butter

jessvaughn74

I love peanut butter, but I have been afraid to eat it because of the amount of calories and fat. I have read I dont know how many peanut butter labels. They all seem to be about the same 190 calories and 14-16g of fat. Then there is the natural peanut butter. I do not see a lot of difference except the cost. I will buy it if it is indeed better for me, but I really cant afford the cost if it is not necessary.

What are your thoughts on peanut butter and what are your favorite kinds?

angieleighbyrd

learn to read the ingredients, not just the nutrition facts.

onezeronine

There's no real nutritional difference. Usually "regular" peanut butter has sugar and salt and hydrogenated oils and stuff added, while natural peanut butter is usually just peanuts, maybe with some salt. I prefer the taste of the natural stuff. Eat whichever you like better.

stines72

natural peanut butters usually have less sugar content, or less sodium even. regular peanut butters usually contain partially hydrogenated oils with a lot of trans fat.

buzzcockgirl

One word: PB2 (is that a word?!)

http://www.bellplantation.com/

It's not AS fabulous as the real thing...but it is really yummy. Especially the chocolate one. Just mix a little water, stir it up and you have spreadable PB! Or use it in it's powdered form to add to protein shakes.

2TBS = 45 cals (vs. 190 for the good stuff)

Give it a try- I had to order online (Amazon)... they dont sell it many places.

baptiste565

natural peanut butters usually have less sugar content, or less sodium even. regular peanut butters usually contain partially hydrogenated oils with a lot of trans fat.

there is no trans fat in peanut butter!

Graelwyn75

I get meridian brand, natural, comes in a large tub and is literally just peanuts.
Alternative is peanut flour which is just pulverised peanut without the fat and unlike pb2, no added sugar and cheaper.

suz155

I love PB2. I mix it with a little jelly and put on a piece of good fiber bread....its not as good as the real stuff, but, it helps me with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich cravings. I know some people mix a tsp of the real stuff, PB2 and jelly,,,they say that helps. Its worth a try.

zillah73

Fresh Grind Peanut Butter Ingredients: Peanuts

Jif Creamy Peanut Butter Ingredients: Roasted peanuts, sugar, contains 2% or less of: molasses, fully hydrogenated vegetable oils (rapeseed and soybean), mono and diglycerides, salt.

If all you are concerned about is calories, then it's pretty much a wash. If you are concerned about ingredients/additives/etc. then natural is the way to go.

Saffyra

I eat the one I like. Regular ole Skippy. My husband, though, loves Jif.

I make room for those tasty peanut buttery calories in my day.

zyxst

I use Kraft whipped peanut butter because it's the "healthiest" (open for debate :laugh: ) that I can handle. I've tried natural peanut butter and it's the same flavor and texture as eating peanuts and spreading it out. :sick:

Pick what you like and make room for it in your daily cals.

jaysonhijinx

I gave natural peanut butter a go and after the initial shock of all the oil when first opening I got the hang of it and much prefer it these days. I find regular peanut butter now salty and not as nutty, lol.

stines72

also you know you can EASILY make your own peanut butter right? step 1: put peanuts in a blender, blend until smooth. you dont even need to add oil to it

WDEvy

Way less sugar but I mostly eat it because it tastes a whole lot better!

marsellient

I gave natural peanut butter a go and after the initial shock of all the oil when first opening I got the hang of it and much prefer it these days. I find regular peanut butter now salty and not as nutty, lol.

I like the natural kind because of the ingredient list: peanuts. I leave my unopened jar on the counter for a couple of days and rotate it when I think of it. It helps with the oil layer a little. A meat fork, the kind with two tines, is the perfect implement for mixing after you open it.
Check your brand if you find natural peanut butter dry. Some manufacturers take some of the oil out.

jaysonhijinx

I gave natural peanut butter a go and after the initial shock of all the oil when first opening I got the hang of it and much prefer it these days. I find regular peanut butter now salty and not as nutty, lol.

I like the natural kind because of the ingredient list: peanuts. I leave my unopened jar on the counter for a couple of days and rotate it when I think of it. It helps with the oil layer a little. A meat fork, the kind with two tines, is the perfect implement for mixing after you open it.
Check your brand if you find natural peanut butter dry. Some manufacturers take some of the oil out.

Oh, I have no issues with the oil and know that it needs a stir if it sits for a while just seeing that layer on top for the first time after being so used to regular peanut butter was a bit of a suprise :P

DawnEH612

My local grocery store, Wegmans, has a section called Natures Market. In that area of the store customers can grind their own peanut butter, almond butter or peanut butter with dark chocolate chips (OMG I made the mistake of trying this, once, when they were out of the almond butter) and it is to DIE for ..only 170 calories for 2 TBSP. i prefer to eat almond butter as i had been reading some negative stuff about peanuts. Some interesting reads on peanuts and peanut butter and the negative and potentially detrimental affects of them on the human body:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-bad-is-peanut-butter-really/#axzz2NlCNefEw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_butter
http://dherbs.com/articles/peanut-butter-170.html

i_luv_irs

Natural peanut butter is natural. Regular peanut butter is not. I prefer the fat that the peanuts naturally come with over the fat it doesn't naturally come with. I'm not at all scared of the cast in peanut butter. It's a natural and healthy fat. Plus you're not meant to eat gallons of it. Most of the time on he tablespoon is more than enough for me. It's great on apples too.
Looking at your food diary, it looks like you could stand to get more calories in anyway. PB might be a good way to do so.

corsayre8

Haha, so I happen to have some Skippy in the house that I am finishing up, at work we have some Natural Skippy, the only difference is the type of oil used. Crazy.

What I buy when making healthy choices, and will switch back to once this bottle is gone, is the fresh stuff from the Health Food or Produce department of the grocery store. You watch the peanuts being ground up and know absolutely nothing else is going into your container :-)

veggiehottie

All natural peanut butter is awesome! Have been eating it for years.

Usually just has the peanuts and maybe some salt... No extra stuff added. And yes, learning how to stir it does take some patience. Lol.

Now that the bigger labels got on the bandwagon, you will see sugar added to the "natural" peanut butters. Still better for you than the other stuff. But read your labels.

I always stick with Adams or Laura Scudders. Yummo!

JeanDescole

0_o I had no idea about natural peanut butter, what is it and where can I get some. Till now I only thought there was smooth and chunky...

CoachReddy

hydrogenated oils are one of the worst things out there - good ole trans fats that, even in very small amounts, can pose serious heart risks.

"regular" peanut butter has partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. no bueno.

my peanut butter contains one thing. peanuts. that's it. oh, and it costs me less than skippy. good ole Trader Joe's.

AMBlass

Regular peanut butter can also have high fructose corn syrup in it. Nothing good can come from that! If your peanut or nut butter has anything but nuts in it, dump it!

tommygirl15

If you love peanut butter than make it fit, it's soooo worth it! Doesn't have to be everyday, but definitely don't give it up.