Peanut Butter?

officiallymrswhite
officiallymrswhite Posts: 423 Member
edited September 28 in Food and Nutrition
So...peanut butter is one of my favorite foods...it's so good! Is it bad for you? I know it has a lot of fat...so I am not really sure if it is good for you. Also...I am looking for a peanut butter that is more on the healthy side, but does not taste disgusting. I have tried the reduced fat peanut butter and it was gross. Any suggestions? Thanks!
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Replies

  • Other than the fact that it is dense in calories, there is nothing wrong with it and it will not affect your health or weight loss goals, as long as you stay in a caloric deficit.
  • leftymac
    leftymac Posts: 169 Member
    Yes, it's good for you. High in protein, and the fat is the good fat. Remember, our bodies need fat. It's best to get a natural peanut butter -- one that is just basically just ground peanuts. Processed peanut butters like regular old Jif or Skippy have added sugars.
  • bflicker11
    bflicker11 Posts: 296
    I love incorporating peanut butter into my breakfast. LOVE it but you're right about the calories. I usually will use 1/2 of the serving size but it's enough to cover my sandwich round.
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    one spoonful a day!!
  • rachel5576
    rachel5576 Posts: 429 Member
    Yes! Peanut butter is one of my favorite snacks. Just go all natural.
  • tmacs
    tmacs Posts: 60
    I LOVE peanut butter...cashew butter is delish too. I agree, loads of calories. It kills me to put 1-2 tablespoons on my english muffin. I want to load it up! On the other hand, it's a great source of protein.
  • idream2bgwen
    idream2bgwen Posts: 424 Member
    it is a good source of protein and good fats so I do eat it in moderation. I like the natural skippy. It still has about 180 cal for 2 tbsp. I usually add 1-2 tbsp to my chocolate protein shake and it tastes like a reese's peanut butter cup! MMMMM!!!! :D
  • Goal_Seeker_1988
    Goal_Seeker_1988 Posts: 1,619 Member
    Buy all natural pb. The kind that only contains peanuts. It's really good. I eat crazy richards.
  • skinnyhappy
    skinnyhappy Posts: 152 Member
    Anything Peanut Butter & Co touches is pure gold. Deeeee-lish. I've found that a big spoonful as dessert helps curb cravings later. God I'm drooling at my desk...
  • I use PB2... not exactly the same, but lets me feel like I am enjoying peanut butter at a fraction of the calories. :)
  • bkelley32148
    bkelley32148 Posts: 279 Member
    I love PB2!!!!
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    I heard there is powder peanut butter you can buy online . I buy crazy richards natural peanut butter and pour off the fat that rises to the top.
    It's really thick but I don't care. You can't put it in the frig.
  • rickymare
    rickymare Posts: 10 Member
    You can buy the peanut butter powder. It has 85% less calories. Here is an example. http://www.amazon.com/Powdered-Peanut-Butter-12-6-5/dp/B002GJ9JY6
  • RJaxon00
    RJaxon00 Posts: 13 Member
    I usually have peanut butter with my toast for breakfast and again in the afternoon before my workout. I usually rely on it's calorie density to meet my daily calories requirement.

    The most healthy peanut butters are the ones with the least amount ingredients on the label (typically).
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    I am a PB fiend! Its great for you! Its full of healthy fats our body needs. However, moderation is the key. It is very calorie dense and I limit myself to 2 tbs per day. I would stay clear of processed PB like the previous poster says. Get all natural PB. The only ingredient should be peanuts, no added salt, oils, or sugar. There will be oil separation but that's natural, Just stir and enjoy!

    Stay away from reduced fat PB. Its no good. THey just replace the health fat with sugar and carbs, just to save 10 calories! Not worth it!
  • noexcuses1218
    noexcuses1218 Posts: 332 Member
    Smart Balance Omega-3 peanut butter is my absolute favorite. They use molasses as a sweetener (and not much of that), and it's very tasty. Pricey, but watch the sales and you can get a good deal occasionally. I just limit myself to one tablespoon at a time, which isn't hard if you're already practicing portion control.
  • Ariyasnow1
    Ariyasnow1 Posts: 117
    I would go with anything organic. Read the ingredients closely and look for a peanut butter that has raw peanuts. I personally use almond butter. I only pick out ones that list the one and only ingredient as 'raw almonds'. I then use pure maple syrup or agave nectar to sweeten it to taste.
  • maggieschuck
    maggieschuck Posts: 174
    Jif make a low sugar and low sodium peanut butter.
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    I picked up the kraft 25% less fat and it taste the same to me. I will have it sometimes with saltines and a cup of milk, it has replaced my chocolate bars that i used to crave. I had a peanut butter and jam sandwich with a glass of milk for lunch the other day. it was amazing. lol it came to 440 calories.
  • jodibelle
    jodibelle Posts: 79 Member
    I get Krema - the only ingrediant is peanuts! :) No salt added. As long as you give it a good stir when you open it it's pretty good!
  • MJKing2
    MJKing2 Posts: 177
    I too love peanut butter. I was eating the Peter Pan creamy whipped peanut butter and the taste was still good, but lower in calories than regular. I just switched this week to the Bell Plantation PB2 powdered peanut butter and I'm really liking it too. You mix it with water so it's lower in calories and it curves my peanut butter cravings.
  • percussionbeat
    percussionbeat Posts: 85 Member
    I love pb too! Makes for a such a satisfying snack, but yeah, have to source for the natural ones that just have peanuts. Went through this short period of craving pb so bad I was dreaming about it at night :P
  • JDMPWR
    JDMPWR Posts: 1,863 Member
    I can be good and bad. Everything in moderation for 1 but most importantly if you want it to be truly good for you then change to an all natural PB which most people hate do it it's texture plus the flax oil sitting on the top!
  • gaeljo
    gaeljo Posts: 223 Member
    I work for an organic peanut butter company: www.onceagainnutbutter.com There are some amazing peanut butters out there to try. We make sugar free ones but we also make one called, American Classic which you don't have to stir before you eat it. Peanut butter is very good for you. It is rich in protein. While it is high in fat, it is also rich in niocin a fat burning vitamin that is naturally occurring in peanuts. There is no reason you can't eat 2 tablespoons a day. I've lost 56 pounds and I eat peanut butter nearly daily. Hard not to around here! LOL. Enjoy it without guilt!
  • eillamarie
    eillamarie Posts: 862 Member
    A tablespoon or two of PB a day is awesome :) Try the organic kinds, they have less salt & don't have hydroginated oil holding the solids & liquids together. Just be prepared to stir the jar before every use.
  • crystal_loga
    crystal_loga Posts: 106 Member
    As I type this, I am eating peanut butter... lol I like to add a few teaspoons in my cereal to give it a little extra flavor and get some protein in.

    I buy Low Sodium Natural Jif. It's 90% peanuts. Its kinda high in calories, so I don't eat it every day, but it taste very yummy. I cant tell the difference between this and regular Jif other than it has a more roasted peanut taste. My main areas I try to watch are calories and sugars, so this fits well in my plan.

    2tbsp
    190 cals (130 from fat)
    16g Fat (3 saturated)
    0mg Cholesterol
    80mg Sodium
    8g Carbs
    2g Fiber
    3g Sugar
    7g Protien


    Hope this helps!!
  • cdez80421
    cdez80421 Posts: 88 Member
    Try "Better N Peanut Butter" you can get it at most natural grocers and some Target Superstores have started carrying it now, I like the kind with the blue label, it has less sodium. Different texture than normal peanut butter but has half the fat and calories.
  • JennLifts
    JennLifts Posts: 1,913 Member
    I eat PB DAILY! I go through a jar a week :) I do kettle, unsalted. It's 14gf/2tbs, or 1oz. I didn't fancy it at first, but now i don't like any of the salted stuff. I've found I have to watch sat fat, but other than that go for it if it fits in your macros!

    Edit- You can make your own too.. Buy some peanuts and put them in a food processor! I just got a pack of honey roasted yesterday, so I'm going to experiment ;)
  • sharonuk10
    sharonuk10 Posts: 277
    I love me some creamy skippy peanut butter and have it on a slice of bread or some crackers for an after walk snack. It hasn't hindered my weight loss in anyway over the last year.
  • Anything Peanut Butter & Co touches is pure gold. Deeeee-lish. I've found that a big spoonful as dessert helps curb cravings later. God I'm drooling at my desk...

    AMEN to Peanut Butter & Co.- they make Dark Chocolate Dreams- over a toasted low cal Eng. muffin and it's my substitute for warm gooey choc. chip cookies. LOW in sugar too, believe it or not.

    Any of the nut butters are wonderful- I've found sunbutter ( sunflower seed) , almond butters, and cashew butters-
    you can find them in the organic sections or health food stores.
    Or Smucker's natural- it has no sugar- is good too. The oil separates a LOT so you have to stir it but it tastes so much better ( imo)
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