[Sarah Mac]

I love peanut butter each morning on a 100 calorie english muffin. I get discouraged when I go look at the labels of the healthier peanut butters and they have more calories than JIF. Does it make a difference what type to eat. Will I get more benefits eating the healthier more calorie laden peanut butter or stick with my JIF.

Sounds silly but I get tweeked over it in the grocery store lol.

[Salubrious Fervor]

I think I would be more worried about the sugar at that point than the calories.

[chick_in_the_hat]

95 calories for a tablespoon for Jif? It's not that much different than natural peanut butter (105 cals for a tablespoon). IMHO the natural stuff is way better for you. Jif has a lot of sugar and other stuff. Plus you get a workout stirring up the natural stuff the first time.

[chris313]

I buy Smuckers all natural PB. It has no sugar added and is delicious. You have to keep it in the fridge after you open it though. In MHO, I'd rather eat the all natural than Jif which has sugar and chemicals added.

[snapless]

Two things I need to share with you. The first being a short story of how, a long time ago, I was a heavy peanut butter eater also (specifically Jif), and my husband bought small jars of 3 other kinds of peanut butter, blindfolded me, and had me taste each one. I couldn't tell the difference!

The second is the nutritional information from 3 different peanut butters.

Jif (2 tbsp)
- 190 calories
- 16 grams fat
- - 3 grams saturated fat
- - trans fat unknown
- 7 grams carbohydrates
- - 2 grams dietary fiber
- - 3 grams sugar
- 8 grams protein
- 150 mgrams sodium
- cholesterol unknown

Skippy "Natural" (2 tbsp)
- 180 calories
- 16 grams fat
- - 3.5 grams saturated fat
- - 0 grams trans fat
- 6 grams carbohydrates
- - 2 grams dietary fiber
- - 3 grams sugar
- 7 grams protein
- 150 mgrams sodium
- 0 grams cholesterol

Now you'll see there isn't a whole lot of difference between Skippy "Natural". 10 calories, .5 grams saturated fat, 1 gram carbs, 1 gram protein.

Fifty50 is a low glycemic peanut butter. On the rare occasions I eat peanut butter these days (low carb WOE), I use it.

Fifty50 (2 tbsp)
- 190 calories (yes, higher in calories than Skippy, but read on)
- 16 grams fat
- - 2 grams saturated fat
- - 0 grams trans fat
- 7 grams carbohydrates
- - 3 grams dietary fiber
- - 1 grams sugar
- 7 grams protein
- 0 mgrams sodium
- 0 grams cholesterol

Now, the day I get out of backwater Japan (I'm in such a hicksville if it weren't for the military base there would be more rice paddies than people) and I can actually SHOP again, I'll look for something even better...I know there has to be something out there even healthier for me than the Fifty50. So, try looking in your healthy food section? Try shopping at Whole Foods or someplace similar? I'm sure you can find a healthier alternative to Jif.

[Sarah Mac]

Wow y'all are quick to the rescue! LOL.

I guess I do need to look at the other nutritional numbers because I usually just add calories up.

I will try to find the all natural kind and give the healthier kind a chance

Thank y'all for the quick responses!

[ClaireFitz]

The most satisfying type of peanut butter is the one that contains the fewest ingredients, hopefully just peanuts. Its much better to look at ingredient lists than calories because your body will be able to process the food more efficiently if its natural.

[KLK]

I *LOVE* peanut butter for a snack and I usually get either Skippy or JIF (creamy or chunky, it doesn't matter). I know that, among other not-so-great ingredients, there are hydrogenated oils in it and stuff, so I was looking for a natural alternative. I bought some natural peanut better, all excited about it, and I went home to have some.

Now you have to understand, I have one of the strongest stomachs on earth. I've vomitted MAYBE 6 times in my whole life, but the minute I tasted my all-natural peanut butter, I seriously thought I would throw up. It was unbelievably disgusting (and I did stir it).

I eat maybe two tablespoons of peanut butter 4 times a week, so I will keep my Skippy for the time being (unless someone can suggest a brand of natural peanut butter that actually resembles the standard kind).

[Insatiable]

Just a thought, but my nutritionist recommended Almond butter. I was like
She said peanut butter has more hydrogenated oils and sugar. Almond butter is a much better choice because it does not contain added ingredients or preservatives. It is packed with monounsaturated fats, which are good for the heart, and helps to control blood sugar.

I have to say I love PB just like the rest of us, but when I switched I am just as satified, I actually feel healthier with Almond butter. Almonds are one of the good nuts. I know it is a taste preference too. So just a thought.

BTW, I can't stand all natural PB. It is just so blah and plain. Every time I buy it I throw it out.

[Darkblue]

I like almond butter, too. One tablespoon on a piece of wheat bread, with a smear of red plum jam, keeps me going for a while.

[kaplods]

I love almond butter and cashew butter, but not a big fan of peanut butter, especially the "regular" smooth kind. Crunchy is ok, and natural is better, but I really like the other nut butters much better. I tried macadamia butter once, but I didn't like it. It was way fattier than the other nut butters, and even draining didn't help. But I absolutely love to get the "grind your own" almond butter from the health food store. (If you don't like the texture of natural peanut butter, you won't like this either, though).

I've heard that you can get defatted peanut flour and make a paste with water (this is high in protein, but low in fat) and either use it as an imitation peanut butter or mix it with "real" peanut butter (natural or regular) to seriously cut the calories per tablespoon. I've also heard of people pureeing white or other mild tasting beans into a food processor and mixing with equal parts of peanut butter to make a "light" peanut butter.

Seems like a lot of work, and of course it wouldn't last very long, even in the fridge I wouldn't think, so it seems a big waste of beans and peanut butter, unless you're really eating a lot of peanut butter.

[zenor77]

I've eaten natural peanut butter for so long (just peanuts on the ingredient list) that the "regular" kind grosses me out. It doesn't taste like peanuts to me.

Another problem, besides sugar, in processed peanut butters is that they add bad fat into some brands. Why does peanut butter need hydrogenated fats and sugar added?

[nelie]

I am with you zenor. I've eaten natural peanut butter for so long (20 years?) that if i taste the 'regular' stuff, it tastes gross.

I love natural peanut butter. I'm not a big fan of almond butter but I love walnut butter.

[Fat Chick B Gone]

Originally Posted by zenor77

I've eaten natural peanut butter for so long (just peanuts on the ingredient list) that the "regular" kind grosses me out. It doesn't taste like peanuts to me.

Dear god my roomie picked up the store brand (JIF knockoff) for me and it's killing me to eat it. Give me back my organic now!!

[zenor77]

Originally Posted by nelie

I'm not a big fan of almond butter but I love walnut butter.

Ooooh... where does one find walnut butter? Or do you make it? That sounds so yummy!