Ever since I can remember there was always a jar of peanut butter in my home. If there was a dinner we didn’t like, we could always make ourselves a pb&j sandwich. We would never go hungry because pb was always around. It wasn’t until I had kids that I learned how diverse pb could be- on toast with jelly, as a snack with nutella and marshmallow fluff, add it to a frozen banana or slice an apple and have it as a dip. But, never straight out of the jar- it’s too easy to sit down on the kitchen floor and devour the jar! Peanut butter is delicious and versatile, and it delivers many of the same benefits as more expensive tree nuts, such as improving cholesterol and lowering risk of heart disease. Peanut butter delivers heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats, vitamin E and zinc. Look for natural peanut butter (a brand that has just peanuts—and salt, if you insist—as the ingredients) to avoid partially hydrogenated oils and sugar.
I love making pb energy balls! They are my favorite snack (I recommend keeping frozen). And, if anyone is allergic, you can substitute other peanut-free butters.
Click here for a great recipe!