So this time I *weighed* the peanut butter...
 

OK, I thought after all this time I was pretty good at eyeballing portion size, but I still check up by weighing once in a while to make sure I'm not slipping, especially with calorie dense things like cheese. As my special treat for when I'm hiking, I get to have peanut butter (usually I avoid it nowadays because it's easy for me to want way too much of it.)

According to the label it's 190 cal for a 2 tablespoon (36g) serving. I put it on rye crackers, what seemed to be 2 tablespoons, a good but not overly excessive looking serving -- only I had the scale right there on the counter, so I weighed the crackers before and after:

66 grams of peanut butter -- my "2 tablespoons" were closer to 4, and probably 350 cal instead of 190. I'm going to keep checking myself once in a while...

Wow...if this is true I am definitely guilty of this. Thank you, you've definitely made me think about over-estimating portion size.

I don't weigh peanut butter, but I do use a tablespoon to measure it when I have it. It's one of the few things I measure out because it's so high in calories!

I should start weighing my peanutbutter or use a spoon. I sometimes have it 3times a day and I know in my hearts heart that I am overestimating it. Haha. Thanks for reminging us!

Hmmmm. made me wonder how big my 'tablespoons' have been...:?:

I should get a scale for 'spot checks'....which one do you have?

I did this for my hubby once. When he saw how little the amount was, he was shocked. It's really easy to overestimate portion sizes when just 'eyeballing' it.

I use a tablespoon , a level tablespoon !

Originally Posted by bargoo:
I use a tablespoon , a level tablespoon !

Me too - it's one of the few things I actually measure precisely as eyeballing it can mean hundreds of calories mistake whereas with most things it doesn't make much difference.

I love peanut butter, but I have always hated the calories/fat, so I was thrilled to find PB2. 2 tblsp = 45 cals. I think it tastes good too.

Originally Posted by KylieH:
I love peanut butter, but I have always hated the calories/fat, so I was thrilled to find PB2. 2 tblsp = 45 cals. I think it tastes good too.

I like PB2, but it's not as filling because of the removed fat. So, for me, it's a catch 22. I get less calories from that item, but then I need to eat something else anyway as I don't find it as satiating, so in the end it's a wash and who says the other thing would be as good for me - nut fats are good fats.

My scale is just a cheapo digital scale, no particular name brand. Digital scales are pretty easy to get outside the US just in a supermarket, because lots of recipes give all the ingredients by weight in grams. So a lot of my baking recipes are like 550 grams flour, 25 grams butter etc. The reason I tried weighing is that the peanut butter is so sticky I didn't want to lose any on the spoon!

Here's my peanut butter scale trick: put the jar on the scale, tare it, and scoop until it reads -30g (or whatever your serving size is).

I weigh EVERYTHING! I am so OCD about it! You would be surprised how way off we can be with estimating!

Isn't it amazing how looks can be deceiving? Here in Israel, I know that the bread look and weight is very misleading. I was eating a specific brand of rye bread for months, enjoying 2 slices a day and thinking I was within the calorie count of what a regular slice of bread is. Wrong! When I actually got out my kitchen scale to weigh the slices, I found out each was 60 grams. So I was actually eating 4 slices of bread instead of 2!

It's the same with "light" bread. In the States, light bread is 40 calories each (or thereabouts). In Israel, each slice is actually 60 calories by weight. so "light" bread isn't so light...

Djuna

What? WE're supposed to LEVEL the tablespoon of peanut butter?!?!?! :dizzy:

I eat this a lot too- but it does help me loose because it keeps me full. Must remind myself to be more accountable when weighing/measuring ;-)

I think I do the same thing (underestimating portion size) with Nutella...

F.

This may sound completely silly, but am I the only one that purposely would underestimate peanut butter? :p hahahahahaha how embarassing. I mean I KNEW it was over a tablespoon when I ate it! :p

LOL everyone is so funny with peanut butter!

One thing I've been doing is mixing peanut butter with PB2 in my smoothies. I get more for less calories that way but still get the good fats from the peanut butter.

It might work in other ways too :)

Originally Posted by sontaikle:
LOL everyone is so funny with peanut butter!

One thing I've been doing is mixing peanut butter with PB2 in my smoothies. I get more for less calories that way but still get the good fats from the peanut butter.

It might work in other ways too :)

What is PB2? I see it mentioned on here a lot but I have no clue what it is. I assume it's some sort of American lower calorie peanut butter? I've never seen it in the UK anyway.

Originally Posted by PaintedButterfly:
What is PB2? I see it mentioned on here a lot but I have no clue what it is. I assume it's some sort of American lower calorie peanut butter? I've never seen it in the UK anyway.

It's powdered peanut butter that is a lot less calories than peanut butter :)

http://bellplantation.com/

I generally buy mine off amazon as there aren't any stores near me that carry it.

Does PB2 taste as good or almost as good as real peanut butter? I'm OBSESSED with peanut butter and I think the extra cals are really hindering me at this point. Can you spread PB2?

OMGGGGGG POWDERED PEANUT BUTTER!?!?!?!? *faints*...

I litterally just cried a tear of joy. hahahaha thank you!!!

carmelkitty - Haha :carrot: it is quite a glorious thing for us peanut butter addicts.

Originally Posted by mirax3:
Does PB2 taste as good or almost as good as real peanut butter? I'm OBSESSED with peanut butter and I think the extra cals are really hindering me at this point. Can you spread PB2?

You mix it with water to get it to the consistency of peanut butter. I haven't really used it other than in my protein shakes, but makes them taste nice and peanut buttery.

The chocolate PB2 I mix up and eat off a spoon. It tastes like a peanut butter cup. :D

I bought PB2 from Amazon too. Frankly, it's saved my life as I adore peanut butter but haven't indulged due to how high calorie it is when I eat as much as I want. :)

I love peanut butter! It's dangerous! :P

I didn't know about PB2 until now. It looks like Trader Joe's sells something similar called Peanut Flour - I might have to pick some up and try it out! Cool idea!!

I just ordered some more PB2 myself. I actually have an unopened package, but I had to order other things and wanted to get the free shipping.

I also picked up some PB2 thins. I tried them a while back and they're really good! :D

Originally Posted by cornellchick:
I love peanut butter! It's dangerous! :P

I didn't know about PB2 until now. It looks like Trader Joe's sells something similar called Peanut Flour - I might have to pick some up and try it out! Cool idea!!

Isn't peanut flour for baking? If it's totally like PB2 where it turns into peanut butter I'll have to try it though :)

*sigh* Glad I'm not the only person who could darn near drown themselves in PB. I love the darn stuff... especially crunchy! So, that is why for as long as I can remember, whether I was low carbing and now while doing low calorie, I have always used either a real tablespoon measuring spoon, or a long handled teaspoon. It's the only way I can control the portion!

No one probably cares, but I just was reading the comments on here, and took a "tablespoon" of peanut butter. And it was great. LOL

I usually leave myself an extra 200 calories at the end of the day in case I get a stupid craving. Like this one. lol


My fiance gives me the dirtiest look when I eat it though, he thinks its nasty. lol

So I've just read this thread and immediately went downstairs and munched my way through 2 slices of toast with peanut butter.

I hate you all :joker:

Originally Posted by Angry Bear:
So I've just read this thread and immediately went downstairs and munched my way through 2 slices of toast with peanut butter.

I hate you all :joker:

Whenever I think about PB I want it.

It's like crack! :D:D

Not that I have ever had crack, but I hear it's addictive! haha

Originally Posted by Angry Bear:
So I've just read this thread and immediately went downstairs and munched my way through 2 slices of toast with peanut butter.

I hate you all :joker:

HAHAHAHA Great minds think alike!! :P

Originally Posted by electrongirl:
Whenever I think about PB I want it.

It's like crack! :D:D

Not that I have ever had crack, but I hear it's addictive! haha

OMG!!! That`s what I say all the time. LOLLLLL I dont know what crack is like either, but I'm sure the addictive feeling must be what I feel towards peanut butter and chocolate LOL

Oh my god it is like crack! I used to take a spoonful of it and eat it!

Sometimes when I am short on calories for the day I do that now :lol:

OK I know I have to stay away from this cause its SOOO friggin good-but freshly churned Honey PB from Whole Foods. Ahhhhh there is nothing like freshly made PB.
Also, peanut butter and co makes incredible PB.
Its wierd cause I used to hate it as a kid. I also used to hate pizza and cheesecake.
WHAT HAPPENED. :mad:

Would you all quit it!!!!!!

*goes into kitchen armed with a spoon*

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! hahaha

I weigh all calorie dense food esp nuts. I find that I often under estimate the weight if I just eye ball it. With cheese though I always over estimate and I am always surprised at how much 25g of cheese actually is! When i used to do low carb, I used to eat nuts by the handful and now when I weigh it and see how much calorie it has, I dont wonder anymore why i wasnt losing weight with low carb! :) I had 3g of macadamia and according to my fitnesspal 21 calories!! what??? that's crazy!! and delicious!! but mostly crazy!

Originally Posted by Angry Bear:
So I've just read this thread and immediately went downstairs and munched my way through 2 slices of toast with peanut butter.

I hate you all :joker:

I'm sorry! That's why I have the "only on hiking day" rule, otherwise I would have shut it out of my life completely. (Also why it doesn't matter so much that it's over, because I know I'll work it off on an eight hour hike.)

Oh peanut butter...how I miss you!! No peanut products in our house since finding out a couple of months ago my son is allergic :( However, soy nut butter is a pretty good sub. I weighed out my portion this morning...it's not quite as much as i had been estimating...barely enough to eat with my apple slices!

I've never liked peanut butter. My crack is Nutella. I can't think of anything more delicious.

F.