Looking for a delicious, nutritious spread to add to your meals? You can't go wrong with peanut butter.
Peanut butter is made from dry roasted peanuts that are ground to perfection until they become a creamy and smooth texture (or sometimes a little bit crunchier!). Whether you're spreading it onto toast or using it in your favourite baking recipes, you'll fall in love with the rich and indulgent taste that peanut butter brings to your dish.
Smooth or crunchy peanut butter: it’s an age-old debate with many people in opposing corners. But, if this is your first foray into the world of peanut butter, you might be thinking, which one do I choose?
Well, as it turns out, smooth peanut butter is perhaps the most popular variety. Smooth peanut butter has the perfect texture for spreading onto toast or eating with jam in sandwiches – a classic PB&J! It will mix well into smoothies, desserts and can be used in baking too. For an afternoon snack, spread onto some crunchy apple segments for a good dose of fibre.
Crunchy peanut butter, on the other hand, is very similar to its smooth counterpart but with chunks of crushed peanuts included in the spread to give it its crunchy texture. Crunchy peanut butter is perfect for making cookies with added texture, mixing into your granola for a kickstart to your day, or spreading over a slice of wholemeal bread for a yummy lunch.
For fans of delicious crunchy peanut butter, the Meridian Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter is all-natural containing natural sugars and flavours for a delicious taste. Also available in a roast crunchy peanut butter flavour where the peanuts have been roasted for longer for a richer, more intense flavour, this tantalising peanut butter is great spread on crackers or fruit.
If smooth peanut butter is more your thing, the Manilife Original Roast Smooth Peanut Butter is a melt-in-your-mouth blend of roasted peanuts and sea salt. Ideal spread onto toast, or baked into your favourite cookies, this jar of smooth peanut butter will become a staple in your food cupboard.
Peanut butter goes with almost everything you can think of, which makes it easy to incorporate into a balanced diet. Why not try segments of apple spread with peanut butter or a couple of rice cakes topped with the spread and banana slices? For more inspiration, check out our favourite peanut butter recipes.
Peanut butter is a source of protein which supports muscle maintenance and repair. However, some products have added sugar and can be high in calories and fat too, so it’s worth checking the ingredients and sticking to the recommended serving size.
If you have a nut allergy, it’s always best to avoid peanut butter and if you feel unwell or have an allergic reaction after eating it, stop consuming it and visit your GP.
The lesser-known, but increasingly popular, powdered peanut butter is a great choice. Made from roasted peanuts which are then ground into a fine powder, powdered peanut butter can be mixed into smoothies, used in baking, or cooking and you can add water to it to make your own jar of peanut butter!
Our favourite is the PPB Powdered Peanut Butter Original. It is a powdered form of traditional peanut butter, which is 70% lower in fat than lots of other spreadable peanut butter. High in both protein and fibre, it is gluten-free and suitable for vegans and vegetarians too.
Most peanut butters are suitable for vegetarians and vegans and are a good way to get protein if you are following a more restrictive diet. However, you should always check the label to make sure it contains all the right ingredients as different products will vary!