Peanut Butter! What's your favorite?

Ascolti_la_musica
Ascolti_la_musica Posts: 676 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I *love* Jif Creamy Peanut Butter. Recently, someone on Reddit recommended Earth Balance Coconut & Peanut Spread as a healthier alternative. I bought a jar, and have to admit it IS tasty, if a bit on the soupy/oily side. (Which is probably why they call it "spread" and not "peanut butter.") However, the nutrition is about the same.

Both have 190 calories. For Carbs/Protein/Fat/Saturated Fat, we have Jif: 8/7/16/3. Earth Balance 7/6/17/5. It seems to me that Jif is the healthier choice, because it has more protein, less fat, and less saturated fat. So how is the Earth Balance better? Is there some secret benefit of coconut oil that I don't know about?

I have tried at least a half dozen "reduced fat" peanut butters, and have yet to find one that didn't go in the trash after the first taste. But I see a LOT of people advocating peanut butter. Why? It has a lot more fat than protein.

How does one determine good fat versus bad fat? What makes one good while the other is bad? I do not understand how all fats are not equal. Surely someone has a good blog about this? (I don't want a list of X is good, and Y is bad. I've seen plenty of those. I want to know WHY X is good and Y is bad.)

What are your favorite peanut butters and why? Do you choose by the label or the spoon? I definitely choose by the spoon! If it isn't delicious, I'm not choking something down in the name of health. :-P
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Replies

  • Ascolti_la_musica
    Ascolti_la_musica Posts: 676 Member
    I realize that is several questions under one post, so feel free to pick and choose which segments you can answer. lol
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    Hello! I look for ones that have no added oil or sugar. For me the easiest to find at a store is the Smuckers Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter.

    I don't understand why most peanut butters have a bunch of unnecessary ingredients added to them.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    I like Peter Pan honey roasted flavor. I've tried the other brands' honey roasted peanut butters, and Peter Pan is the best.
  • fiorim
    fiorim Posts: 6 Member
    Actually i go by the label but Planter's crunchy peanut butter is 180 a serving and it IS delicious, satisfying and the crunchy part gives it a little extra fiber!!
  • tripful
    tripful Posts: 40
    Hi! My favorite thus far is either Smucker's Nautral (full fat) or Wegman's Natural (full fat). Both still have a bit too much sugar, but they are nice and high in fat at least. Please understand, there is absolutely nothing wrong with fat in *natural* peanut butter, or in any *high quality, natural* food for that matter. Eat as much as you want, just keep the sugar low! =)
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    I like Jif Natural for my kids. It spreads easy, requires little stirring, and tastes good. I don't eat much PB myself. I like Biscoff Spread on my toast. If I am getting PB for me, I'll get some Honey Roast from the "grind your own" bar at Whole Foods.
  • SGocka
    SGocka Posts: 33 Member
    Justin's Honey Almond Butter.
  • AmiC0717
    AmiC0717 Posts: 440 Member
    If I am going to eat normal peanut butter then I'm with you. The spoon has to be the decision maker otherwise why eat it? I like Peter Pan and Jif the best. Regular on both. Right now I eat PB2 simply due to the calories. My hubby says I'm a weirdo but hey what else is new........I like it. To me it tastes like fresh peanuts with no oil in them. I don't really like the chocolate PB2 though but my 15 year old daughter does. But she eats Nutella and I don't. I think it's a choice you should make just as with all food. If you have a favorite brand then eat it by all means! Just moderate :)
  • Ascolti_la_musica
    Ascolti_la_musica Posts: 676 Member
    But she eats Nutella and I don't. I think it's a choice you should make just as with all food. If you have a favorite brand then eat it by all means! Just moderate :)

    I was an absolute Nutella addict from the moment I took my first bite of it on a croissant in Rome. I have had to give it up, though, because the first ingredient on the label is sugar. I get PLENTY of sugar from other sources, and simply can not justify eating the amount of it in my beloved Nutella. :-(
  • dustbunnygirl
    dustbunnygirl Posts: 4 Member
    While perusing the health food section of my local grocery store one day, I came upon a product called PB2, by Bell Plantation. It is a powdered peanut butter (ingredients are roasted peanuts, sugar, and salt) that you mix two to one with water. Two tablespoons of the powder equal 45 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, less than 100 mg of sodium, and 5 grams of protein. The mixed version isn't 100% comparable to peanut butter in texture (depending on how carefully you measure the water it can either be really thick or a little soupy), but it has a very close flavor. I eat it with apple slices, celery, on graham crackers, and even on a sandwich. It's also great in recipes, and throwing a tablespoon in a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese makes for a yummy, protein-packed snack.

    (I personally prefer the PB2 Chocolate variety, but the plain is good, too)

    When I absolutely have to have real peanut butter for whatever reason (I used to be able to eat peanut butter by the spoonful from the jar; I'm definitely a peanut butter girl), I'm a Skippy Natural's kind of girl.
  • PennStateChick
    PennStateChick Posts: 327 Member
    I make my own peanut butter. I buy unsalted roasted peanuts and put them in a food processor until pb consistency. Prior to this, I loved JIF, but now when I have that it seems way too oily.

    Sometimes I add additional flavor to it- dark chocolate or white chocolate chips.
  • lilcupcake213
    lilcupcake213 Posts: 545 Member
    Does a bad tasting peanut butter even exist ???
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I haven't tried PB2...but going to try it after I finish off the jar I have.

    I am currently eating Naturally More with Flax seed...I like it.
  • LisaDunn01
    LisaDunn01 Posts: 173 Member
    Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Shake

    2 c. almond milk
    1 tbsp. raw cacao powder
    2 frozen bananas
    1 heaping tablespoon peanut butter

    Blend.

    YUM!
  • jenmsu83
    jenmsu83 Posts: 185 Member
    Jif creamy all the way!

    I used to love Peter Pan whipped peanut butter but I can't find it anywhere anymore...so sad. :sad:
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    Skippy!
  • luvred51
    luvred51 Posts: 163 Member
    Planters - Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, 190 Calories per 2 tbsp; its all natural and taste good. :laugh:
  • twostepsforward
    twostepsforward Posts: 113 Member
    In the uk theres only one option for me personally and its the whole earth peanut butters as they have no added sugar. Aa far as I can tell there arent any others widely available like this. And its so delicious. And got to be the crunchy one. Yum!
  • peachfigs
    peachfigs Posts: 831 Member
    i love all peanut butter

    i roll it into balls and put it in the fridge :laugh:
  • katiekfloo
    katiekfloo Posts: 13
    peanut butter & co cinnamon raisin swirl!!!

    and coookie butter fromk trader joes is amaziiing
  • carlom18
    carlom18 Posts: 174 Member
    Ceres Organic range! (only one i can find atm) it is soo nice and it has only 2 thing on ingredients list, peanuts (99%) and sea salt. Also their almond butter on is nice. Its nice to see the oils rise to the top and then have to stir it through. That's what i think and like to see when you know you have a good butter
  • LouiseH238
    LouiseH238 Posts: 199 Member
    In the uk theres only one option for me personally and its the whole earth peanut butters as they have no added sugar. Aa far as I can tell there arent any others widely available like this. And its so delicious. And got to be the crunchy one. Yum!

    Yes - Whole Earth organic crunchy with no added sugar. Also, the palm oil in this brand is from a sustainable source, unlike many others.
  • ChocoMello
    ChocoMello Posts: 74 Member
    Here in Germany we have only one brand. Barneys best.
    Some bio stores have different ones but they are super expensice (Like 15 a glass) and you cynt find the popular brands like jiff here.
    I would really like to try them.

    We also ony have twi skrts. Creamy and crunchy.

    So i make my pb myself!
    With honey roasted peanuts and good peanut oil.
  • never124get
    never124get Posts: 163
    Someone on Reddit recommended Earth Balance Coconut & Peanut Spread as a healthier alternative.

    I'm wondering what subreddit you use that gives you health advice?? I usually only go on /r/aww or /r/funny...Just wondering :) thanks!
  • irishguns
    irishguns Posts: 53 Member
    I don't eat a whole lot of peanut butter honestly, but my daughter does. I just buy our store brand natural creamy peanut butter. I personally like crunchy, so maybe that's why I don't eat it much.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    Hello! I look for ones that have no added oil or sugar. For me the easiest to find at a store is the Smuckers Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter.

    I don't understand why most peanut butters have a bunch of unnecessary ingredients added to them.

    ^^ I like this one but honestly just pick the peanut butter that tastes best to you. Too much worry is being spent on sugar and sodium rather than calories and macro content and the fat in peanut butter is pretty good. If you're truly worried about the sodium then sweat more.
  • BaDaSsBrUnEtTe
    BaDaSsBrUnEtTe Posts: 518 Member
    Jif creamy natural
  • wswing
    wswing Posts: 39 Member
    Adams natural peanut butter...no added sugar or oil and so delicious!
  • amdahwd
    amdahwd Posts: 237 Member
    Peter Pan whipped peanut butter. It is so easy to spread even when using less and you still get the full flavor but not all the calories you get from the whole serving (if you are just using it as a snack). I love my peanut butter!
  • voIatile
    voIatile Posts: 4
    Trader joes crunchy unsalted pb! Mmmmm

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