Delicious Discovery

Better 'n Peanut Butter

I have always been fairly obsessed with peanut butter.  Jif or natural, I think it may be the perfect food.  It's loaded with protein, full of unsaturated fats (the good ones!) and just plain delicious.  Peanut butter is great to mix in oatmeal, on toast, in a sandwich, with bananas...should I continue?  The one bummer about peanut butter is it has a lot of calories per serving.  Two tablespoons of PB has 190 calories, 16 grams of fat (3 grams of which are saturated or bad fat) and 8 grams of protein.  Who in their right mind uses two tablespoons of peanut butter when making a sandwich?  I have tried, and I'm usually left with a measly looking sandwich, very unsatisfied and with my hand in the cookie jar.  

And then I stumbled upon Better 'n Peanut Butter (BPB).  This spread is made by Wonder Natural Foods and I'm not sure how they figured out the secret recipe for BPB, but I wish I had done so first!  It is definitely a little sweeter than "normal" peanut butter but the nutrition facts are quite the opposite.  Two tablespoons of BPB have 100 calories, 2 grams of unsaturated fat, no saturated fat and 4 grams of protein.  It is very spreadable and so incredibly yummy.  I think it is a bit addictive, so if you overdo it once or twice, you are saving more calories than if it was "regular" peanut butter.  Plus, it comes in a low sodium version, which I think is way better than the original BPB.  The one kind I have yet to try is Chocolate BPB--I'm sure it is really yummy but I haven't found it in the grocery store yet.  I will report back once I do try it out.

I'm not saying I have shunned peanut butter and only eat BPB now.  Peanut butter is a super healthful food that is high in calories and fat because it is packed full of good-for-you fats and protein.  Personally, I'm a big fan of both Jif and Teddie, but when it comes to saving calories or just finding ways to eat a little bit less -- BPB is a great option.   It is made with real peanuts that are "de-fatted", thus much lower in calories yet equally scrumptious!

BPB is great in recipes too.  I have made a lot of smoothies, peanut butter cookies and pies with BPB and they have all tasted delicious.  BPB can be found at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and in many major super markets (usually in the natural food section).  It is definitely less expensive at Trader Joe's...significantly less expensive...so go there first if there is one nearby.  If you prefer online shopping Amazon sells it too but only in multi packs.  

Like I said in the beginning, I have always been fairly obsessed with peanut butter!

Email me at nicolesilva@weightthatsit.com