Ok..we have tried the all natural peanut butter (you know the kind with the oil on the top that always runs down the side of the jar...and your hand...when you try to stir it) I like them all right but my kids don't. Well, I stumbled on a natural peanut butter that is actually very good:
Smart Balance Omega Natural Peanut Butter
It comes in both Creamy and Crunchy. It is very Peanut-ey AND is all natural AND does not have the oil on the top!
The ingredients are: Peanuts, natural oil blend (flaxseed and palm fruit oils) salt and molasses.
Fat: Serving size 2 Tbsp Total: 16 Sat Fat: 2.5 Trans Fat: 0 Poly Fat: 2 Mono Fat: 10
NO hydrogenated oils NO Trans fatty acids No refined sugar 1000mg Omega 3's
(and the best thing of all is that my kids like it...even when given the "eat it off a spoon" test )
Has anyone else tried this? (oh...the only place I have found it has been Albertsons!)
My Harris Teeter just got it in this week. I've been waiting for a review before I tried it. I'll pick up a jar the next time I shop. Thanks for being my guinea pig .
Posts: 4 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: February 26, 2006
Just remember you are eating more saturated fat from the palm oil than you would have in a peanut butter that contained peanuts and salt. Arrowhead Mills is a very creamy one made with Valencia peanuts. We are going to see alot more palm oil and palm kernal oil in processed foods as the trans fats are used less. Does peanut butter really need any oils added to it? Costco has an organic peanut butter but the second ingredient is palm oil. No thanks for me.
Actually...there is the same amount of saturated fat in the natural peanut butter without the oil. (they each have 2.5g) Plus the Smart Balance has 1000mg of Omega 3's from flaxseed. Here is a link to Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter with only Peanuts and Salt.
thanks for the review. I will look for it and see how I like it. I actually love the smuckers natural and so does my DD, but I don't like the oily mess when you first open the jar.
Posts: 20 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: February 26, 2006
staying healthy...you made me really look into this when I had a few extra minutes tonight. This is what my kids eat on a regular basis...it has to be ok for them or I would go back to the natural oiley stuff. (which I love but the kids tolerate...hehehe)
After Googling Palm oil I found that the Smart Balance Peanut Butter does NOT contain Palm Oil but PALM FRUIT OIL this is what they say on the Smart Balance Site:
quote:
Why do you include palm fruit oil? Isn't palm oil bad for you?
There is a major difference between the oil from the fruit of the palm tree and the nut kernel which contains, palm kernel oil. Palm fruit contains far less saturates, myristic and lauric acid. Another plant source of saturated fat is coconut oil. This, too is much higher in saturates, myristic and lauric acid than palm fruit oil. Our nutrition scientists chose palm fruit to replace hydrogenated oils as the best and lowest source of natural saturates.The palmitic acid in palm fruit oil is an excellent way to sustain HDL "good" cholesterol when balanced properly with polyunsaturated fatty acids
This is why the Sat Fat is so low.
That said...thank you staying healthy for challenging this...it made me really realize the difference between PALM OIL and PALM FRUIT OIL...one word makes ALL the difference when it comes to health! I read ingredients/sugar/fat on all labels and may not have picked up on this in the grocery in a hurry
Originally posted by imloulou: I want to add something about the Palm Oil.
staying healthy...you made me really look into this when I had a few extra minutes tonight. This is what my kids eat on a regular basis...it has to be ok for them or I would go back to the natural oiley stuff. (which I love but the kids tolerate...hehehe)
After Googling Palm oil I found that the Smart Balance Peanut Butter does NOT contain Palm Oil but PALM FRUIT OIL this is what they say on the Smart Balance Site:
quote:
Why do you include palm fruit oil? Isn't palm oil bad for you?
There is a major difference between the oil from the fruit of the palm tree and the nut kernel which contains, palm kernel oil. Palm fruit contains far less saturates, myristic and lauric acid. Another plant source of saturated fat is coconut oil. This, too is much higher in saturates, myristic and lauric acid than palm fruit oil. Our nutrition scientists chose palm fruit to replace hydrogenated oils as the best and lowest source of natural saturates.The palmitic acid in palm fruit oil is an excellent way to sustain HDL "good" cholesterol when balanced properly with polyunsaturated fatty acids
This is why the Sat Fat is so low.
That said...thank you staying healthy for challenging this...it made me really realize the difference between PALM OIL and PALM FRUIT OIL...one word makes ALL the difference when it comes to health! I read ingredients/sugar/fat on all labels and may not have picked up on this in the grocery in a hurry
We learn something new everyday!
Lisa in FL
My question is why do they need to ruin peanut butter with oil at all? Why don't they just use peanuts?
Be sure to read EatingWell's article on palm oil -Feb/March (banana cover)2006- p.71. It is aptly called a magazine of "food and health". After reading that article I became more aware of palm oil on labels and how much of it is appearing in the grocery store.
a sugestion for peanut butter that has a layer of oil on top when you buy it: when you get it home turn the jar upside down. and keep it that way until you open it. it doesn't entirely mix the oil in but enough works its way thru so it needs minimal mixing. a couple of plunges with a knife will do it, then store in the frig & it won't separate again. I only buy Adams crunchy PB. might be a west coast brand. the sweetened stuff (like Jif, skippy) doesn't even taste like PB.
I just want to 2nd what xcskier said about storing the jar upside down. I do this all the time (but don't refrigerate). I've been using Nature's Promise organic PB which is just peanuts and salt, and don't need to mix after the first time or two using it. (And even the 1st time there's not a lot to mix -- the oil really does work its way through pretty evenly.)
Originally posted by xcskier: a sugestion for peanut butter that has a layer of oil on top when you buy it: when you get it home turn the jar upside down. and keep it that way until you open it. it doesn't entirely mix the oil in but enough works its way thru so it needs minimal mixing. a couple of plunges with a knife will do it, then store in the frig & it won't separate again. I only buy Adams crunchy PB. might be a west coast brand. the sweetened stuff (like Jif, skippy) doesn't even taste like PB.
Great idea- Why didn't I think of that!! I'm guessing it doesn't leak??
I read in the Vegetarian Family Cookbook... "Natural-style, peanut-only peanut butter is often too intense for kids, especially younger ones; commercial peanut butters are filled with hydrogenated fats made from unhealty oils, and high fructose corn syrup. Here's an all-natural, organic, creamy-smooth solution tha I wish I had thought up of when my children were young: In a food processor, combine 3/4 cup natural-style peanut butter with 3/4 cup (about1 1/2 of a 12.3 oz package) silken tofu, 2 Tablespoons maple syrup or honey, and a pinch of salt. Process until velvety smooth. Transfer to an airtight container. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks."
I tried this and thought it was pretty good. My nieces are coming up in Aug and I'm trying to get some healthier stuff for them to eat while they are here. The one only eats pb&j on white bread, gold fish crackers you get the pic.
My rec would be to use soft tofu. I left out the salt and used honey. I thought the pb tasted sweeter more like the store bought reg stuff but not overly sweet at all and not really much like honey. The honey add just a note of sweetness. AND the peanut butter didn't really seperate- another tofu bonus.
Cheryl
Posts: 4 | Location: Maryland | Registered: February 26, 2006
We use Laura Scudder natural pb all the time. When I bring the jar home, I open it up and pour off most of the oil and discard it. I just leave the tiniest bit of oil on the top and then mix it in with a knife. It's not messy since I've taken most of the oil off. The pb is still a nice consistency, I just don't feel like we need all that oil!
I do the same thing. I use the costco brand organic all natural peanut butter, but I drain the oil that collects on the top. The taste is not bad considering its better for you!!
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