…healthy “butter”…
Peanut (and other nut) butter is a great food to incorporate into your diet (if you are not allergic to it). When searching for your favorite peanut butter try to find the most natural peanut butter that you possibly can. When you find your peanut butter grab the jar…and turn it around and look at the ingredients label. The only ingredients that should be in the jar should be peanut butter, salt, and possibly oil. NOTHING ELSE. Buying the peanut butter that is “Low in Fat” or has other health phrases on it are usually not the best for you. They usually have MORE ingredients, more calories, more sugar, and are not as healthy for you!
Peanut butter has a good serving of fiber and protein. You will not want to go overboard with the peanut butter seeing as there is 180-200 calories per servings (which is typically 2 tablespoons). Try to stick with the serving size and you will be ok!
Peanut butter has a ton of the “good fats”. These fats are called “monounsaturated fat” and are great to help you reach your health and fitness goals.
There are some companies that have made peanut butter that are nut free (they have the flavor or peanut butter) but they do have a lot of ingredients as well. They also have powdered peanut butter (you simply add water to the mix and stir it up). These versions are lower in calories and fat and are a great options for those who have to watch those macro-nutrients. They have also made some peanut butters that are higher in protein and that come in various flavors (such as dark chocolate, white chocolate, and many other sumptuous flavors.
Spreading peanut butter on vegetables, fruit, crackers, or even a slice of bread can be a great snack or small meal for you and your family. You can also get almond butter, cashew butter, and a variety of nuts made into butter. But also be cautious because those may have higher calorie, fat, and sodium macro-nutrients.
So the next time you head to the head to the grocery store make sure to stop when you are walking down the aisle with the peanut butter and try to find a new treat to add to your menu!
