Amy's Nutrition Picks: Natural Peanut Butter

Why do choosy moms…? I'm not sure, unless they like to fill their kids up on sugar and hydrogenated oil. These unnatural peanut butters are something akin to eating frosting. Choose a natural peanut butter like Adams brand. The only ingredients you'll find are peanuts and salt. If the oil separation that occurs is daunting, try leaving the jar upside down for about an hour. Some of the oil will migrate up to the bottom of the jar, making it easier to stir without making a mess. After stirring, store in the refrigerator. If you want to skip the stirring altogether, you can grind your own peanuts at Smiths on 12th and Harrison (their peanuts are unsalted, too) or at The Good Earth on Riverdale Road. Don't be fooled by 'Skippy Natural' which contains both sugar and palm oil, a saturated fat. Most companies add saturated fat or hydrogenated oils to their peanut butter so that it has a smoother texture and separation doesn't occur. However, since peanut oil contains the same heart healthy oils found in olive oil, adding a saturated fat or hydrogenated oil to it undermines the healthful properties of consuming it in the first place.

Amy Cain, Dietitian
(801) 476-2212
Appt. Scheduling 476-6760