Happy National Peanut Butter Day!

Peanut butter lovers rejoice; it’s National Peanut Butter Day! This American staple is a cheap and easy protein source. It’s shelf stable, versatile and portable. What else could you ask for?

Peanut butter is a higher calorie food, running at about 200 calories per 2 tablespoons. This shouldn’t make you shy away from it though. The fat and protein it contains can help make you feel fuller longer, which can keep you from overeating later. The majority of the fat in peanut butter is the healthy kind, known as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These kinds of fats can help lower your cholesterol levels, thus decreasing your risk for heart attack and stroke. Peanut butter also contains fiber, vitamin E, B vitamins, iron, as well as many other nutrients.

Protein is generally the most expensive part of a meal, so choosing peanut butter over meat and poultry as your protein source can save grocery store dollars. The average 2 tablespoon serving of peanut butter costs around $0.10 while a 2 ounces servings of turkey from the deli counter is about $0.75. These savings can really add up over time!

Of course, you could go with the classic PB&J sandwich, but what else can you do with it? Here are some ideas:

• Add peanut butter to a protein shake or smoothie

• Make a Thai Chicken Peanut Sandwich

• Stir in a spoonful of peanut butter into your oatmeal

• Make a Peanut Butter Banana Roll Up

• Spread peanut butter onto a bagel, English muffin or slice of toast

• Fill up with some No-Bake Energy Bites

• Dip apple slices into warm peanut butter

• Spread peanut butter on celery and add raisins