Say it with me, "The real thing is better than the fake stuff."
We could be talking about a number of things, some food-related and some non-food-related. But today, the subject is peanut butter.
I was not a typical kid in many ways, but in one particular way: did not like peanut butter. So I couldn't tell you what was in peanut butter as a child, because I ate so little.
When I tried natural peanut butter as an adult, I discovered that it was okay. Not great, but certainly rather good. Sure, the extra stirring is annoying, but worthwhile, given the taste improvement.
So I was sufficiently horrified to read Tom Philpott's take from Grist.org about what Skippy does to make its peanut butter "reduced fat."
This isn't to say that Skippy is the only company to do this, but the reduced-fat peanut butter is a problem, regardless of which company makes it.
Peanut butter is fat, ideally fat from peanuts. Some fats are better for you than others: avocado, olive oil. So fat is part of the deal. And we need fat.
Philpott points out that a natural peanut butter has 190 calories per two-tablespoon serving and 15 grams of fat, the "reduced fat" product has 180 calories per two-tablespoon serving and 12 grams of fat. Unless you are eating it out of the jar with a spoon as if it were ice cream, the difference isn't worth it.
The reduced-fat peanut butter adds sweet (corn syrup solids and sugar), salt, vegetable oils, and other type stuff. The natural peanut butter has peanuts and salt. Which one is more yummy?
If you grew up with peanut butter, stirring it might blow your mind — the oils are there so you don't have to stir it. I didn't, so I don't really care. But you might. And if you do, get your kid or significant other to stir it for you. And if you live alone, close your eyes as you do it.
Don't be afraid of fat, carbohydrates, and protein. You shouldn't be afraid of any food, even the ones that add no or few little nutrition. But if you are afraid, don't be scared of the natural sources of fat, carbohydrates, and protein. If you eat a sensible amount of the regular peanut butter, you will be better off in every respect than if you eat more of the "reduced fat" peanut butter.
And this doesn't even factor in the salmonella taint that started this discussion in the first place.
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