Peanut butter is junk food, isn't it?

iamkass

In the USA, typical budget peanut butter is mostly peanuts and sugar. No trans fats, and just enough (<2%) hydrogenated oil to give it a smooth texture.

Peanuts are plentiful and relatively cheap in the US. Most commercial peanut butters here are (mostly) just peanuts, salt, and/or sugar. However, unless you buy the "all natural" varieties, most of them have a little bit of hydrogenated oils (no trans fats, though) added so you don't have to stir.

Unfortunately both of these statements are incorrect. Though the trans fat is listed as 0 on the nutrition facts label, if there are partially hydrogenated oils in the ingredients, the peanut butter DOES have trans fat. There is a loophole in the labeling law that allows for a serving size of less than half a gram of trans fat to be listed as 0. It's a lie, but one that makes uninformed consumers much, much more likely to buy the product.

That's not a loophole, that's just math.

stevewynjones

PB is ambrosia....*drool*

mamax5

To the OP....in the US D i c k is a profanity. I think it's interesting how profanity is different among cultures.....you might have already known though.

Beezil

I buy Smucker's Natural No Salt Added peanut butter. Ingredients: Peanuts



Best **** ever - but kind of addictive, like crack, only it's good for you.

jus_in_bello

I haven't purchased peanut butter in ages. We have a friend who makes the most amazing peanut butter, it's actually rather spicey and amazing, whenever we go to Haiti we come back with jars of it (that and Haitian vanilla - holy delicious). Have you tried making it yourself?

desiv2

I don't understand why some people are against PB...maybe if it's a trigger for you, then I understand, but I never saw it as junk food......I eat PB&J and I've lost plenty of weight. If you're really worried about the calories..use 1 T (90cals) instead of 2 T, get low sugar jelly(10cal), and low calorie wheat bread(70 cal for two slices).. boom my pb&j sammich is 170 calories and I use it as a snack sometimes.

bethlaf

Actually in the USA peanut butter, can legally only contain 90% peanuts and like 4-5 approved additives, salt, peanut oil, honey dextrose and not more than 55% fat


if it contains anything else it must be labeled "Spread"

http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WhatWeDo/History/ProductRegulation/ucm132911.htm

is it "health food" yes, based on single or minimal additional ingredients and a lack of unrecognizable additives.

is it low calorie, no.

is it good for you , yes, mostly...

melindasuefritz

NO

dorthymcconnel

Most peanut butters I see are full of sugar, molasses, palm oil or other oil, and of course salt. I choose one that is merely peanuts and a little salt.

kellykw

I don't understand why some people are against PB...

Some peanut butter is loaded with sugar

auddii

I eat natural peanut butter, and the ingredients are peanuts and salt. Even if it is "more expensive", it's a hell of a lot cheaper than places outside the US. When my brother was living in Switzerland, he had my parents ship him peanut butter because it was so expensive there and he could only afford horse as a meat (and apparently he wasn't a fan of horse). Even shipping the peanut butter across the planet was cheaper than buying it in Switzerland (well, I guess it was free for my brother...).

grandevampire

Ta, vampire, but I am not dissing peanuts or any other nut (healthy), but processed peanut butter.

Oh, don't worry, I know you weren't dissing peanuts, I'm just saying that if you make your own from peanuts, PB = peanuts.

DontStopB_Leakin

MFP: Where peanut butter is junk food but protein bars are totally legit.


© Merc 2013

Saucy_lil_Minx

Peanut butter is a calorie dense food for sure! I love peanut butter off the spoon! Gotta have my fix every once in a while. I do try to avoid a lot of it. I know peanuts are exposed to a whole lot of afaltoxins (molds), and can not be sold raw without potential issues with contamination (unlike other nuts). I try to avoid fake foods (hydrogenated oils), and added sugars. I would try for organic, and all natural if possible. Most of the time I choose other nut butters.

cmcollins001

MFP: Where peanut butter is junk food but protein bars are totally legit.


© Merc 2013

jujunnaichi

Clarence Bass is well known for his peanut butter lunch.

"[A] guy who made his bones, so to speak, by reducing his body fat to 2.4% eating peanut butter sandwiches for lunch."

Reference: http://www.cbass.com/Peanutbutter.htm

quiltlovinlisa

It is calorie dense but dang, I cut an apple in half, core each half and put a tablespoon of peanut butter on each half for a snack with some serious staying power. It's AWESOME!

MizAngie

I would take PB over chocolate any day...LOVE PB. I used to eat bananas and PB all the time. Became allergic to bananas so PB is now solo.

porter_stephany

I like PB2. It's powdered peanut butter that has had most of the fat removed. What you're left with is low fat, low calorie (45cal/2TBS). It's delicious on it's own or in smoothies or sandwiches

SuperSexyDork

MFP: Where peanut butter is junk food but protein bars are totally legit.


© Merc 2013