Considering it features on my blog header, I’ve devoted a post to it in the past, and I haven’t gone a day without it since April, there is no doubt that I love peanut butter. Forget alcohol and cigarettes: this is an addiction for me. I do prefer the smooth variety but the crunchy option will do. Unless you suffer from a peanut allergy, what’s not to love?! It goes well in just about everything: a sandwich/wrap filling, sushi, yogurt, ice cream, as a dip for fruit/vegetables, mixed with shredded chicken, spread on a piece of dark chocolate, as a sauce for noodles, stirred in oatmeal, on a spoon…you name it and it’ll probably taste divine!
When I tell people about my obsession for it, they are slightly taken aback. Even though peanut butter is high in calories, the common misconception is that one will gain weight by eating it. You can thank me for busting that myth in the butt: the fats present in peanut butter are the good kind i.e. monounsaturated (MUFAs) in nature. As long as you stick to reasonable portions (1-2 teaspoons per serving), there is no reason why you can’t enjoy peanut butter regularly.
Along with its tantalizing taste, peanut butter also packs in a gamut of nutrients:
- Protein
- MUFAs
- Fiber
- Vitamin B3 & E
- Folate
- Iron
HOWEVER, please take note of this: peanut butter is only a nutritious food so long as you are talking about natural or organic peanut butter. These jars contain minimal ingredients, all of which you can pronounce :). On the other hand, the commercial peanut butters are loaded with preservatives, hydrogenated vegetable oil, salt and sweeteners to enhance its taste. That being said, you might as well eat a donut and say you’re being healthy ;). More so, in commercial peanut butter, the inherent healthy fats (MUFAs) are converted into unhealthy fats (trans fat).
Calorie-wise and taste-wise, commercial and natural peanut butter stand head-to-head against each other. Actually I lie: natural peanut butter tastes WAY fresher and is much more satisfying. It’s also become quite popular recently and most supermarkets do stock it.
So as long as you’re sticking to the natural forms of peanut butter, go ahead and enjoy it…and pass over a spoon when you’re done!