What is the deal with peanut butter? Is it good for you or not? I know that it is a good source of protein, and I have heard that the fat is has is the "good" kind of fat, however, I must say that the high amount of fat it has makes me hesitant to eat it even though I admit I love it (especially on apples, celery, rice cakesm and whole wheat toast with jelly...peanut butter and banana sandwiches are a weakness of mine too) I have seen articles in magazines about peanut butter with only like 2-3 grams of fat per serving but I have never seen this kind in a store and imagine that even if I do find it in some health food store, it is probably quite expensive. What do you all think about peanut butter? Is it like most foods in that it is okay as long as it is in moderation? Your opinions are appreciated as always. Thanks, Alecia

Like you I've looked for the lower fat kind but the lowest I ever found in my grocery store was 12g per 2T. serving, so what I do is have 1T. w/apple as a snack when I feel like I want some peanut butter, so it cuts the fat in half.
But even if you have the whole serving (2T.), I suppose as long as with anything else, it's in moderation, it's okay.

Donna

I agree with getnfit@38 you have to eat any peanut butter in moderation.

i like to have peanut butter as a snack ...a slice of whole wheat toast with a tiny smear of peanut butter w a glass of non fat milk...or on apples or bananas...but it is easy to get carried away w peanut butter...if you can control the amount you have i think it is a healthy choice..if portion is a problem it's prob best not to have it..i found i was dipping my teaspoon into the jar a bit too much so i have decided not to have it in the house for a while...until i can have better control over it...

I agree with PB in moderation and actually had it on toast yesterday, but I only eat it once in awhile because it is higher in fat...and I only eat natural peanut butter. When I looked at the label for the reduced fat Skippy, it had too much gunk in it for me, including sugar and partially hydrogenated oil..for me, thats stuff I stay away from, even in small quanities. Certain things just set me off to eating more, and sugar is one of them.

This is from reduced fat Jif brand of PB:
ROASTED PEANUTS, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, SUGAR, SOY PROTEIN, SALT, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS (RAPESEED, COTTONSEED AND SOYBEAN) TO PREVENT SEPARATION, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES (TO IMPROVE CREAMINESS)


This is from the brand of natural PB I buy (Arrowhead Mills):
ROASTED UNBLANCHED VALENCIA PEANUTS. MAY CONTAINER 0.5% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: CASHEWS, ALMONDS, AND/OR SESAME SEEDS

Anyway, im not trying to turn this into a debate about natural vs regular or reduced fat, everyone has to choose their own things,..but just a comparison of what is out there.

Thanks, I'll try to limit myself to only having peanut butter once in a while, and like some of you said I think it is good on veggies, fruit, or whole wheat bread once in a while...its when you put it on crackers or have it in combination with chocolate that it is not good for you. Thanks again, Alecia

i have 1 tbsp only just abou everyda. i put pb in my carnation instant breakfast and blend it up .. i have 1 tblsp on my english muffin but i always measure it and never use more than 1 tbsp.

...it's late in the conversation, but here's my $.02--even 2 T of a fattening, but protein-filled, food is better than nibbling "healthy" choices, still being hungry, then bingeing!! I have found, for myself, if I really crave a certain thing, I can substitute til the cows come home, and give myself far more calories than if I had the wanted food in the beginning. I have also found that sometimes bringing "lite" alternatives can backfire for me-- I either feel "permission" to eat more of it, or the nutritional value of it isn't that great in the end.

Again, ultimately, it comes right down to moderation.

you are so right jessica!! :up:

Jessica so well put if you want a cookie you don't want a sand. or a piece of celery. I like you have eated way to many calories trying to curb a craving only to have what I was craving anyhow. Moderation is the key work to it all Moderation Moderation Moderation.

See you lighter

so here's jess and boblin in Yoga class, everone else is saying "ooooohhhhhmmmmm" and we're like "mmmmmmmmoderation, mmmmmmmmmoderation..."