LaraLoves Peanut Butter

At this very second I am licking peanut butter off my finger and trying not to get it all over my keyboard.  I love the sticky, smooth, salty, sweetness of it. Having recently thrown myself with full force into eating more healthily, peanut butter is the one indulgence that I feel increasly guiltless about. You see; peanut butter (and various other delicious nut butters) are good for you! Peanut butter was invented in 1890 as a meat protein substitute and rightly so; a 2-tablespoon serving of peanut butter contains 7 grams of muscle repairing protein! It contains the same ratio of saturated to unsaturated fats as olive oil and its a source of iron, potassium and dietry fibre.

However, not all peanut butters are created equal. Check the label of your peanut butter and you are likely to see a host of ingredients other than the peanut; sugars, sweeteners, oils etc. These are not good for you. Do not be fooled by the following sneaky wolves in sheeps clothing;  Dextrose, Maltodextrin, molasses and palm oil; they are all sugar! Also don't bother buying reduced fat varieties of peanut butter- the fat in peanuts is good for you- and the retailer is likely to have added sugar to make up for the missing fat. I checked Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda own brands as well as Skippy, Sunpat and Whole Earth brands and found added sugar or one of the above mention nasties added to all of them.

So; the award for best supermarket peanut butter goes to;

Tesco wholenut peanut butter £1.34 contains 91% peanuts some vegtable oil and peanut oil and a little salt. 3.3g of sugar per 100g- not bad!

Obviously, most of the people reading this will not give a monkey (nut) about the average 6g of sugar (per 100g) found in peanut butters.. but when you eat it as often as I do.. it adds up. You can always buy peanuts and chuck them in a blender.

Here's some of my favourite, some unconventional things to do with peanut butter;

1. Apple crudite with peanut butter dip

2. Bannanna or blueberry peanut butter protein shake

(Milk or almond milk, frozen or fresh bannanna or blueberries, protein powder, flaxseed powder, cinnamon and a good tablespoon of peanut butter- blend and enjoy)

3. Civilised Caveman's Wheat free, sugar free bannana bread (the man is a genius)

Essentially just 4 bananas, 4 eggs, 1/2 cup nut butter, 4 tablespoons butter, coconut flour, cinnamon, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and vanilla essence.

4. Peanut butter, bannana and cinnamon omlet

My amazing nutritionist friend Lindsay introduced me to the idea of sweet omlets.. amazing.


5. Peanut butter spoon.



Brad and PB.. dream.