One of our favorite foods is nut butters. Although there are many people with nut allergies or sensitivities, there are many options available that even include nut butter alternatives to satisfy everyone’s nutty tastes!
NOT ALL NUT BUTTERS ARE CREATED EQUALLY
Whether you prefer peanut, almond, cashew or macadamia, it is important to look at the ingredients of your nut butter. We recommend sticking to the rule of keeping it simple…the fewer the ingredients the better. Peanut butter should have…you guessed it…peanuts! And maybe some added salt. But that is all. Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a jar of Skippy peanut butter? Roasted peanuts (good), sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil, salt. Why do you need to put extra sugar and hydrogenated vegetable oil in your body? You don’t! Read labels and be mindful of what you are choosing! This all-natural, organic peanut butter is one of our faves!
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR NUT BUTTER?
We can easily upgrade nut butters from the classic PB & J! Nut butter can have so many uses! Some of our favorites:
- Spread on veggies–celery and carrots are probably the most common, but try it on cucumbers or jicama for an added punch!
- Dip your fruit in it–apples, pears, even grapes or berries taste good with nut butters
- Add to your smoothie–whether you use the powdered form or straight from the jar, nut butter adds extra flavor, consistency and healthy fats & proteins
- Try it with bacon! Yep, that might sound weird, but this savory combination is delicious
- Upgrade your dessert–did you see our protein pudding recipe? What about adding to blended frozen bananas for some delicious “nice cream”? Or spread some on your favorite dessert bread like banana bread!
- Breakfast option–whether you like pancakes, french toast or waffles, nut butters make a great flavor spread that are better for you options than sugary syrups
SNACK TIME!
Nut butter can be the perfect snack. If you have your jar and a spoon you are set. Or when you are on the go, grab your favorite nut butter pouch. If you follow a keto lifestyle, “fat bombs” are best when made with nut butters, especially macadamia nut butter which has a preferable fat to carb ratio for Keto. One note regarding snacking and nut butters. Be mindful of the quantity you are eating. A little goes a long way and too much is too much! A typical serving of 2 Tbsp is 200 calories and you can easily over-consume, thus taking in more calories than you need, if you are not mindful.
Enjoy all the options that nut butters provide! There are many high-quality, great tasting options available and you can get creative with how you use them. Comment below and let us know your favorite nut butter and how you like to eat it!
