Many foods have a day or week set aside to honor them. But perhaps no food has more celebrations planned year in and year out than the mighty peanut. And National Peanut Butter Day kicks off the fun in January.
“I’m not certain anyone knows for sure why Americans have named so many days or months for USA grown peanuts and peanut butter,” said Bob White, a Texas peanut farmer and former chairman of the National Peanut Board. “But it doesn’t surprise me that America’s favorite nut is top of mind all year long.”
Peanut butter is well known for its familiar and much loved taste, convenience, portability and affordability. But peanuts and peanut butter truly shine when it comes to delivering nutrition children and adults need to power their day:
- Peanuts have more protein than any nut – with seven grams per serving – for long-lasting energy.
- Peanuts contain over 30 essential vitamins and nutrients and are considered a Superfood.
- Peanuts are heart healthy, a good source of fiber and contain mostly good fats*.
- The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before he/she graduates high school.
In addition to National Peanut Butter Day, here is just a sampling of days and months devoted to this superfood and creations you can make with it:
- March – National Peanut Month
- March 1 – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
- March 8 – National Peanut Cluster Day
- April 2 – National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
- May 18 – I Love Reese’s Day
- June 12 – National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
- September 13 – National Peanut Day
- November – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month
- November 20 – National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
*Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, including peanuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.