Peanut butter, particularly natural peanut butter without added sugars and salt, is a healthy food product and snack to have around. Peanut butter is loaded with protein soo much so, that just two tablespoons of peanut butter is a half serving of the daily recommended amount. It is also loaded with heart-healthy fats. It is difficult to find anyone who is not in love with peanut butter and jelly and many people do eat peanut butter right off the spoon. Unless you have peanut allergies, peanut butter is almost like a condiment that you should keep in your cabinets.
We offer you 10 delightful ways to enjoy the benefits of peanut butter without the jelly sandwich:
1. Coleslaw
Mix about a teaspoon of peanut butter with a simple store-bought Asian dressing and you have a great dressing for your homemade cabbage coleslaw.
2. Soups
Add peanut butter to your creamy soups that call for heavy cream. You can skip the heavy cream, and add a small scoop of peanut butter for an ethnic North African flavor.
3. A Parfait
Perfect for breakfast, a parfait of rolled oats, fruit, and peanut butter is a great, tasty, and healthy way to begin the day.
4. A Dip
Peanut butter is great as a dip for celery, carrots and apple slices. This is an easy snack to make morning, noon, or night, when you get the munchies for something delicious and healthy.
5. A Quesadilla
Bananas and peanut butter are a great combination of flavors. Slice a banana and spread some peanut butter on a warm tortilla, and wrap. You’ve got yourself a new Friday night movie snack full of protein and potassium.
6. A Pancake Topping
Skip the sugary syrup and fatty butter, and spread peanut butter on top of your stack of pancakes instead. It’s warm and tasty and something a bit healthier than your average way of serving pancakes.
7. Brownies
Add peanut butter to your favorite brownie mix. You and your family will love the added flavor and creaminess that peaut butter adds to desserts.
8. Hummus
If you haven’t got tahini for your homemade hummus, use peanut butter instead. It has a similar taste just naturally a bit sweeter and spread on toasted flour tortillas as a dip.
9. Peanut Butter Energy Balls
These delicious enery balls can include many different ingredients, but the basics are peanut butter, honey, rolled oats and raisins or dates. Yumm.
10. Oatmeal
Place a dollop of peanut butter on top of a warm bowl of oatmeal in the mornings or evenings, whenever you enjoy your oatmeal. It is packed with heart-healthy fats and protein and makes for a perfect breakfast or nighttime snack.
Source: Dr. Oz