[Cue the confetti] The wait is over, it’s officially here! Jan. 24th is the day to let your peanut butter pride shine! We all know that Americans love peanut butter (as do our pets). But there’s more to that delicious spread than meets the tongue. That’s why on this National Peanut Butter Day, we are giving you the scoop and counting down the top 4 reasons why you should spread it on thick in honor of peanut butter:
4. Farmer Approved
Last year, we showed you the route from farm to shelf, and how that wonderful, nutty spread makes it into the jar. Peanut farmers love peanut butter because it is a great use of their crop. Peanuts are nitrogen-fixing which means they are beneficial to the soil, and help mitigate soil erosion and degradation when planted in rotation with other crops. And since it takes approximately 540 peanuts to make one jar of peanut butter, farmers know that they can plant peanuts to benefit soil quality while also meeting the demand for peanut butter.
3. Good for You
Peanut butter by way of peanuts isn’t just good for soil on the farmland, it’s also good for consumers thanks to its nutrients and protein. Dietitians, nutritionists, and fitness buffs recommend peanut butter to patients and clients because they know that it is a source of plant-based protein, mostly good fats*, fiber†, and 30 essential vitamins and nutrients. This nutrient profile promotes satiety and a feeling of fullness to curb hunger and help maintain a healthy diet. As such, peanut butter is also recommended by the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. So, peanut butter isn’t just a tasty food, it’s also a nutritious one.
2. Great for Giving
Not everyone in America has reliable access to nutritious foods. Thankfully, there are food banks in many communities that can fill gap for those in need. But food banks need healthy, shelf-stable foods to stock their shelves, which is why peanut butter is a great food for donating (especially in the summer). But peanut butter is also used to help feed those facing food insecurity around the globe. Several ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) have been developed by fortifying peanut butter with dried skim milk, vitamins, and minerals to help treat malnutrition. Needless to say, we think peanut butter is a hero in the fight against hunger.
1. Flavor to be Savored
Let’s face it, for many of us nutrition is sometimes an afterthought. We love peanut butter because it tastes great! Creamy, crunchy or beyond the jar, for us peanut butter fanatics there is a special place among our taste receptors for that signature peanutty flavor. That’s why we gravitate toward foods like peanut butter chocolate cheesecake, and peanut butter cottage cookies. But the markets also cater to our cravings by offering peanut butter flavored items for all kinds of food products. From peanut butter flavored cereal and milkshakes, to new gluten-free peanut butter Girl Scout cookies, there are plenty of new vehicles for delivering that peanut butter taste. Still, sometimes it’s best delivered on a spoon.
So in case you were hoping for an excuse, today is the day to eat peanut butter. But don’t just eat it: revel in its awesomeness! Take pride in its multifaceted goodness, and share the wealth that its nutrition brings! Spoon at the ready; scoop at will; let it stick to the roof of your mouth; and smile.
Show us how you’re celebrating National Peanut Butter Day this weekend by sharing a picture with us on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest and using the hashtag #peanutpower or #PBDay. You’ll be entered to win one of five Peanut Butter Lover Prize Packs. Entry period ends Sunday, Jan. 25 at 11:59pm PST. Continental US addresses only. No PO boxes.
*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.
†Peanut butter contains 8% DV of fiber