FitSugar

Snack Attack: Apple, Peanut Butter, and Pumpkin Seed Stacks

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:15 -0700

Take advantage of Fall's harvest and pick up some fresh apples for this healthy and delicious snack. The apples will not only satisfy your sweet tooth and your need to crunch, but they're also a great source of fiber. I used Pink Lady apples for this recipe, but you can use any variety you like. Munch on these stackers for breakfast or a light lunch, or cut the recipe in half if you just want to make a little snack.

To learn how to whip up this quick treat and see the nutritional info for it keep on reading

Peanut Butter vs. Almond Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

A reader recently wrote in asking, between her two favorites, which was better: peanut butter or almond butter? The question of "better" might boil down to a sipmle question of taste, but like the reader, I enjoy the flavors of both.

I decided to do a side-by-side comparison of these popular spreads to see if they differ much nutritionally. If you're curious what you should be putting on your toast in the morning, read more.

This chart compares creamy unsalted versions of each nutty spread, and the percentages are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

	2 tbsp. peanut butter	2 tbsp. almond butter
Calories	190	190
Total Fat (g)	16	16
Saturated Fat (g)	2	1.5
Carbs (g)	7	6
Fiber (g)	3	4
Protein (g)	8	7
Calcium	1%	8%
Iron	3%	6%
Vitamin E	14%	40%
Folate	6%	6%

Nutrition-wise, it looks like almond butter offers a bit more, especially in terms of vitamin E. I will continue to eat both, and I hope you do too, since both nut butters offer a good source of protein and a fair amount of fiber. Remember, a serving of each is only two tablespoons, so watch those portions.

Snack Attack: Creamy Peanut Butter Dip and Fruit Slices

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

One of my favorite go-to snacks is apples and peanut butter, or ants on a log, but a serving of peanut butter (two tablespoons) contains 180 calories. So if you're watching your calorie intake, here's a way to enjoy that creamy, nutty taste without all the calories. It's made with nonfat Greek yogurt so it's creamy, low in fat, full of protein, and I swear it tastes like peanut butter ice cream!

To find out how to make this creamy peanut butter dip read more.

Take one 5.3-ounce container of nonfat Oikos Greek Vanilla yogurt.
Mix in two tbsp. peanut butter (I prefer crunchy), 1/2 tbsp. honey, and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon.
Serve with slices of apple, banana, and pear. Store unused portion in the fridge.

Makes four, two-tbsp. servings. Each serving contains 80.5 calories, 3.75 grams of fat, .5 grams of saturated fat, .75 grams of fiber, and 5.5 grams of protein.

Avoiding Peanut Butter? Try These Alternatives

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

This whole peanut butter recall has really put a damper on my peanut-butter-loving life. I know not all peanut butter has been recalled, but truthfully, I've used avoiding peanut butter as an excuse to branch out. One positive outcome from this salmonella scare is that I rediscovered my love for crunchy almond butter, and recently tried walnut butter for the first time.

So don't fret about losing peanut butter. To see the nutritional breakdown of some interestingly tasty peanut-free alternatives read more.

Serving Size = 2 tbsp	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Sunflower Seed Butter	185	15.3	1.6	1	8.8	3	6.3
Sunflower Seed Butter (salted)	185	15.3	1.6	166	8.8	3	6.3
Almond Butter	190	16	1.5	0	6	4	7
Cashew Butter	190	15	3	0	10	2	5
Soy Nut Butter	200	14	2	0	8	2	10
Soy Nut Butter (salted)	200	14	2	150	8	2	10
Macadamia Butter	230	24	4	0	4	3	2
Macadamia Butter With Cashews	214	21	3.4	1	6	2.23	3.7
Walnut Butter With Cashews	205	19	2	0	4	2	5
Hempseed Butter	145	9	5	10	7	1	11
Pumpkin Seed Butter	200	16	3	80	2	2	10
Hazelnut Butter	180	17	1	0	5	3	4
Golden Pea Butter	160	10	1	0	16	2	4

Tell me your favorite peanut butter alternative in the comments sections below.

All Peanut Butter Products From Texas Plant Recalled

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0800

The peanut butter salmonella issue grows bigger and bigger daily. Products connected with Peanut Corporation of America are being recalled left and right, and it's not over yet. The Texas Department of State Health Services ordered a recall of all products ever shipped from Peanut Corporation's now-closed plant in Plainview, TX. This plant was inspected after health code violations were found at its Georgia plant. Officials were disgusted to find dead rodents, rodent droppings, and bird feathers in a crawl space above a production area in the Texas plant, which had been operating unlicensed and without an inspection in nearly four years. This is more disturbing news tacked on to a long chain of events that has led to nearly 600 sickened people and nine deaths.

Over 2,000 peanut products have been recalled, making this one of the largest product recalls ever. It sickens me to think that Peanut Corp. owner Stewart Parnell allowed contaminated products to be shipped anyway, saying in an email that "tests discovering the contaminated food were 'costing us huge $$$$$.'" How sad is it that so many people have suffered because of this man's greed? This salmonella incident has also affected people's general opinions of peanut butter, and many are avoiding all peanut butter products for fear of getting sick. Are you?

Source

Have You Been Avoiding Peanut Butter Products Lately?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:30:00 -0800

Who would have thought peanut butter would ever get so much press? The sticky spread is still the center of the latest salmonella scare, and products continue to be pulled from shelves as a precaution. Starbucks is the most recent company to temporarily rid their stores of goods containing peanut butter. Have you taken similar precautionary moves in your own home?

Source

More Peanut Butter Involved in Salmonella Scare

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Last week we learned that peanut butter might be the culprit in the latest salmonella scare. First, King Nut and Parnell's Pride peanut butter were recalled, but now the list grows as more companies pull their products from the shelves. The FDA has traced the tainted peanut butter to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America, which distributes peanut butter and peanut flavor to numerous companies. Since six people have died from salmonella poisoning, the FDA is taking no chances and advising everyone to stay away from all products containing peanut butter including cookies, crackers, cakes, energy bars, and ice cream.

Some known foods to avoid are Little Debbie snacks, Kellogg Keebler crackers, and some Luna, Clif, and ZonePerfect bars. The companies who make Jif, Smuckers, Eagle Brand, and Peter Pan peanut butter said their products are safe.

For a complete list of products involved in the recall, check out the FDA's website.

Is Peanut Butter Spreading Salmonella?

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:10:07 -0800

Last week, yet another salmonella scare swept the nation, and as of today, almost 400 people have been affected. Since September, cases have been found in 42 states, but the majority are focused in California, Ohio, and Minnesota. Although Minnesota officials think the culprit in their state may be King Nut peanut butter, they haven't connected this product to the national outbreak.

Investigators discovered the salmonella in a five-pound container of King Nut peanut butter in a nursing home. This company doesn't make its own peanut butter, but instead orders it from Peanut Corporation of America, based in Lynchburg, VA. King Nut then sells to food-service providers that supply food to hospitals and other institutional facilities, so it's not sold in retail stores. For safety purposes, King Nut has voluntarily recalled its creamy peanut butter sold under the names King Nut and Parnell's Pride with a lot code that begins with the numeral 8.

The CDC, Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration, and state health officials plan to continue the investigation so they can give the public more details about the source of the outbreak. Since the salmonella was found in an open container of peanut butter, cross-contamination may also be a possibility. For more details, check out the FDA's press release.

Source

Food Review: Naturally More Peanut Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

The all-natural Naturally More peanut butter certainly has a lot going for it on paper: It was named one of the 125 best packaged foods by Women's Health, has no cholesterol or trans-fats, and contains healthy essentials like flaxseed, flax oil, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. On top of these positive facts, the company boasts that its product has 25 percent more protein and 50 percent more fiber than regular brands. Is this the perfect peanut butter? See the product's nutritional information and my review when you read more.

Nutritionally, this is definitely a twist on an old favorite: Beyond roasted peanuts, Naturally More contains wheat germ, flaxseed, flax oil, egg whites, omega-3 and omega-6. The fact that this peanut butter is fortified with heart healthy ingredients might make me overlook a slight taste deficiency, but I can't say that I'd be able to tell the difference between Naturally More and another natural brand. It tasted like creamy, delicious peanut butter - just the way it should be. I can't wait to eat it with my apple slices for a pre-workout snack, which motivates me to work out.

Serving Size	2 tbsp
Calories	169
Total Fat	11 g
Saturated Fat	2 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	130 mg
Carbs	8 g
Fiber	4 g
Sugar	2 g
Protein	10 g

FYI: It is National Peanut Butter Month! If you're a PB lover, celebrate with two tablespoons of your favorite peanut spread!

Bagel For Breakfast: What Should You Put on Top?

FitSugar — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:00:00 -0800

Who doesn't love a soft and chewy bagel on the weekend? I don't care that they're full of carbs, since our bodies need them for energy. Plus I try to go for whole grain bagels anyway, so they're healthier than ones made with white flour. I also try to choose healthy spreads like low fat cream cheese and peanut butter, but sometimes I can't help but go for sugary jams and butter. Let's see how these bagel toppings compare.

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