Peanut Butter and Jelly be damned!

scootergirl110 · December 2016

I usually pack my lunch. Most of the time it’s leftovers from last night’s dinner. My lunches are reasonable portions of good and healthy homemade dishes. Calories can vary anywhere from 180-350. Yesterday there were no leftovers and I didn’t want to eat out, so I packed a peanut butter and jelly on Franz Great Seed Whole Wheat sliced bread. Between the 2 slices of bread, the peanut butter and the jelly, I consumed almost half a day’s worth of calories! GRR! I love peanut butter, but wow, that was not worth it.

sarko15 · December 2016

How many calories do you aim for and how much peanut butter do you use? Both peanut butter and seed bread are definitely not low calorie, but a simple PB&J shouldn't be half your day's worth of calories.

scootergirl110 · December 2016

1200 calories/per day. Though it's not the end of the world if I go over a bit. I didn't measure the PB, but it seemed like close to 2tbls. The bread was 260 for both slices. The PB another 160 or so. The jelly 50. And that adds up to 470 give or take a few.

EauRouge1 · December 2016

Was it real peanut butter? I've switched to the powdered kind, there are way fewer calories in it.

MsAmandaNJ · December 2016

Once I decided to be honest and weigh the peanut butter and the jam, I quickly changed the amount I put on the bread (it was shocking). I can eat a lot of PB, but I don't need to, I'm satisfied with a "normal" amount. Sometimes I'll make a half sandwich, if I want more, I'll make another half.

Annie_01 · December 2016

I eat a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast or an afternoon snack many days. It will range anywhere between 275 and 350 depending on the bread that I use. I love peanut butter but have learned that 1 tbl will satisfy me. The bread will vary depending on what I have on hand...Ezekiel(80 calories per slice...English muffin...120-150...and even a 45 calorie per slice bread.

There are ways to cut back on the calories and still enjoy your PB&J.

Sued0nim · December 2016

scootergirl110 wrote: »

1200 calories/per day. Though it's not the end of the world if I go over a bit. I didn't measure the PB, but it seemed like close to 2tbls. The bread was 260 for both slices. The PB another 160 or so. The jelly 50. And that adds up to 470 give or take a few.

You didn't weigh the peanut butter?

Big mistake

That stuff is highly calorific ..and you need to weigh it out because I will almost bet you ate more than you even think you did

rainbowbow · December 2016

Sued0nim wrote: »

scootergirl110 wrote: »

1200 calories/per day. Though it's not the end of the world if I go over a bit. I didn't measure the PB, but it seemed like close to 2tbls. The bread was 260 for both slices. The PB another 160 or so. The jelly 50. And that adds up to 470 give or take a few.

You didn't weigh the peanut butter?

Big mistake

That stuff is highly calorific ..and you need to weigh it out because I will almost bet you ate more than you even think you did

my "tablespoons" were actually 2.5 tablespoons, LOL

Noreenmarie1234 · December 2016

I know! I used to love PBJ until I realized how caloric they are. Now I make my own with 45 calorie light bread, powdered PB, sugar free jelly. A whole sandwich comes out to be (90+45+10) 150 calories! Sometimes I have two

Lounmoun · December 2016

My whole wheat bread is 60 calories per slice.
32 g peanut butter 190 calories
20 g jelly 50 calories
360 calories.

Weigh your peanut butter and jelly.
Choose lower calorie bread. Use half the amount of peanut butter or jelly. Use sliced fruit instead of jelly.

try2again · December 2016

Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »

I know! I used to love PBJ until I realized how caloric they are. Now I make my own with 45 calorie light bread, powdered PB, sugar free jelly. A whole sandwich comes out to be (90+45+10) 150 calories! Sometimes I have two

That's the way I do it too, now, except for the occasional slice of p.b. toast. Won't lie... doesn't taste as good...but it does still have the essence of a pb&j.

Michael190lbs · December 2016

I do 145 to 170 grams of Peanut butter with two slices of bread about five days a week its over 1000 calories.. Just move more to burn it up don't starve or deny yourself..

Showthyme · December 2016

Oh, you speak of my friend peanut butter and his cousins, cashew and almond. I eat it with a small spoon. No competing with bread and jelly. I put just a bit on a spoon, close the jar, put it away and then walk away. Otherwise peanut butter and me will have to end our long friendship. Thank goodness there is no apple butter in my house.

The conditions and calories posted by others makes it closer to those in a dressed salad but a "lite" PBJ can be so satisfying. PBJ brings us back to simplier times in our childhood.

loulamb7 · December 2016

MsAmandaNJ wrote: »

Once I decided to be honest and weigh the peanut butter and the jam, I quickly changed the amount I put on the bread (it was shocking). I can eat a lot of PB, but I don't need to, I'm satisfied with a "normal" amount. Sometimes I'll make a half sandwich, if I want more, I'll make another half.

I can eat PB out of the jar, but don't anymore. Still enjoy PB&J but if I'm short on calories I use Pepperidge Farm Light 7-grain bread (90 calories), 1 Tbsp (16.5g) of PB (95 calories) and 1 Tbsp Jam (50 calories). Total 235 calories. If I can fit it in then I go for a full serving on "devil" white bread.

jennybearlv · December 2016

I'm curious how you make a PB&J with powdered PB. Do you sprinkle it over the jelly or make a paste with water? I've seen the powdered PB at the store and wasn't really sure how it was used. Also, does anyone know of a brand that doesn't add sugar?

EauRouge1 · December 2016

You make a paste with water. It sounds terrible but it's actually a pretty good substitute in a sandwich. Not sure on brands, I live in the UK so we probably have different ones here.

try2again · December 2016

jennybearlv wrote: »

I'm curious how you make a PB&J with powdered PB. Do you sprinkle it over the jelly or make a paste with water? I've seen the powdered PB at the store and wasn't really sure how it was used. Also, does anyone know of a brand that doesn't add sugar?

As PP said, you mix with water, so the primary difference is you don't get the mouth-feel that the fat provides.

I use PB2, which has sugar listed in the ingredients, but it can't be much as it only has 1g/serving. I've also tried the JIF version but thought it was horrible.

cosmonew · December 2016

Oh peanut butter and jelly, I miss you very much...BUT....there is NO room for you in my life, a tablespoon of peanut butter is a sick joke.

cnbbnc · December 2016

I love pb&j but it's more of a treat for me. I have one now and then on light bread with a tbsp of pb (half serving) and some jelly. It's a lil sad but still tastes good. LOL! I wouldn't beat myself up over one sammich though.

Unknown · December 2016

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VeganRaptor · December 2016

Love a good PB+J

I don't make mine low calorie, but I use high quality ingredients so I feel really good about eating them!

Evamutt · December 2016

I eat 1 Tbs of pb on one slice of bread with" no sugar added "jam or yummy jam & big glass of water after

Jeannie3099 · December 2016

OKAY. Do the low calorie bread. One tablespoon of P.B. and get the low sugar jelly. You will do just fine! Limit the amount of fat that you have the rest of the day! Big salad no dressing on the side and a big glass of water over ice.

Jeannie3099 · December 2016

Michael190lbs wrote: »

I do 145 to 170 grams of Peanut butter with two slices of bread about five days a week its over 1000 calories.. Just move more to burn it up don't starve or deny yourself..

So true! If you plan to burn a bunch of calories then you can do this!!!

sarko15 · December 2016

Also, I get that bread with lots of nuts and seeds is typically a health food, but I personally think it's far too heavy for a sandwich. Just do regular whole wheat and you don't lose any nutrition but it's almost 150 calories less a slice.

AndOne8675 · December 2016

jennybearlv wrote: »

I'm curious how you make a PB&J with powdered PB. Do you sprinkle it over the jelly or make a paste with water? I've seen the powdered PB at the store and wasn't really sure how it was used. Also, does anyone know of a brand that doesn't add sugar?

Adams is my go to. You have to stir it and I keep it in the fridge so it doesnt separate. Just because there is no sugar means nothing, still calorific 100cal a TBS. I have to keep it in the house or I am sure my kids would die.

scootergirl110 · December 2016

Thanks for all the feedback, people. I will take the advice of a lower calorie bread and less peanut butter and the rest. For me it has become a treat at this point. It was more of a shock than anything else. You know how sometimes you think you are pretty knowledgeable about nutrition and what the caloric amount is of what you're eating? Well I had a reality check with this one.

bioklutz · December 2016

I am probably the only person who was not shocked by peanut butter calories. I always know it was calorie heavy and spread it pretty thin when making a sandwich. The first time I weighed it I was delighted that I could put a little bit more peanut butter on my bread!