One of my favorite and most frequently eaten foods would have to be nut butters. I find peanut and almond butters to be very satisfying and tasty. They are both a wonderful source of healthy fats and proteins to satiate you for hours. One of my favorite breakfasts is peanut or almond butter on whole wheat toast with fruit – nothing keeps me fuller for longer. Like every other aisle in the grocery store, the amount of nut butters to choose from is growing and growing. Here is a run-down of the some of the different types out there. Peanut Butter Ah, the classic sandwich spread. Two tablespoons of peanut butter comes out to about 190 calories and 8 grams of protein. Peanut butter is rich in monounsaturated fat, and is a good source of magnesium, potassium and vitamin E. This is definitely a staple in my pantry, especially since you can get a delicious natural peanut butter for about $2.50. My brand of choice is usually Krema (crunchy, of course!). The only ingredient in Krema is peanuts- short and sweet. Almond Butter It seems like almond butter is gaining on its peanut counterpoint lately. I’ve noticed a lot of mainstream brands introduce an almond butter recently (such as Jif). Almond butter also is high in healthy monounsaturated fats (even more so than peanuts), magnesium, potassium, and vitamin E. The calorie and protein amount in almond butter is just about identical to peanut butter. I usually lean towards Justin’s Classic Almond Butter which doesn’t have any added sugar or salt. One drawback of almond butter, however – it is a more expensive option. But just keep in mind that almond butter on whole grain bread is still a lot cheaper than eating a fast food sandwich! J Cashew Butter Another new nut butter that I’ve noticed lately. Cashew butter is lower in healthy fat and protein than the above butters. However, it still would be a healthy sandwich spread or fruit dip choice. Try to find a cashew butter without added sugar. Sunflower Seed Butter An alternative to nut butter that I’ve been meaning to try! Sunflower seeds are good sources of B vitamins, magnesium, and copper. Sunflower butter is also high in polyunsaturated fat. MaraNatha has a sunflower seed butter without any other salt or oils added. With any nut butters, moderation is key; while these pack a nutritional punch, they are also high in calories. Measure out your nut butter and keep it to a 1-2 TBS amount. |