Ten Tasty Ways to Eat Peanut Butter!

Not only does peanut butter pack a healthy punch of protein and vitamin A, D, and E, but it’s also affordable, too! Typically costing no more than $4, it’s a complimentary snack item that’s loaded with fiber to keep you full. It also works well on its own and with a variety of other things that you can chow down on. Need more reasons to keep a jar of peanut butter on your kitchen shelf? CL’s providing you with ten ways to mix and dip your Jif with tons of tasty foods.

1. By Itself

Peanut butter has a great enough taste to be enjoyed by the spoonful. The folate and magnesium found in every bit of this delectable treat helps lower your risks of heart disease, said bodybuilding.com.

One peanut butter downfall is the trace of polyunsaturated fats.

“To minimize your intake of even this small amount of unhealthful fat, you can buy all-natural peanut butter. If you dislike the way the oil in this type of peanut butter separates to the top of the jar, simply store the jar upside down,” said bodybuilding.com.

2. Mix It In Your Salad Dressing

A few issues back, Cosmo offered a clever tip for turning the little bits left in your peanut butter jar into ingredients for a salad dressing.

“Instead of tossing it, just add some oil, vinegar, and ginger, and shake for an absolutely addictive Asian-inspired salad dressing,” suggested Cosmo. What a fun way to turn the tables on your dressing!

3. Smear It On Your Bagel

Back away from the fattier butter or cream cheese options and pick up a small package of peanut butter. It should be located right near either of those condiments in your dining hall.

“You’ll feel fuller for longer if you have half a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter,” said bodybuilding.com.

4. Smother It Onto A Croissant

A warm, freshly baked croissant is delicious enough as it is, but adding a thin layer of peanut butter into the mix will make your croissant ten times as flavorful! If you’re a dorm-dweller and want to try this snack, stop by your local grocery store and buy an already-baked croissant. If you live off-campus and have an oven in your house or apartment, buy a brand of crescent rolls, pop them in the oven, and patiently wait for your croissants to bake!

5. Dip Your Pretzels In It

A local convenience store or supermarket should have a bag of pretzel and peanut butter sandwiches in stock like this one by Snyder of Hanover. If not, simply buy a bag of pretzels of any brand, a jar of peanut butter, and dip! If you love healthy whole grain snacks, try a barrel of Utz’s multi-grain pretzels.

6. Dip Your Celery In It

Celery tastes great with bleu cheese, ranch dressing, and peanut butter!

“Peanut butter also has a lot of protein and iron … And the vitamin C in celery will help you absorb iron in the peanut butter,” said livestrong.com.

This is one of the easiest snacks in this list to make. Just buy a few stalks from your local grocery, put some peanut butter onto a plate or in a bowl, and get carried away.

7. Apple Slice Accessory

Whether you’re a fan of green apples or red ones, satiate your hunger by smearing peanut butter onto apple slices.

“Apples and peanut butter are a common combination, but their main nutritional advantage as a snack arises from the fruit and protein mixture that they form,” said ehow.com.

8. Topping For Crackers

This is a fabulous everyday-snack and is also a road trip essential! If you’re trying to save space in a cramped car, it’s likely that the passengers will be satisfied with this combination. Crackers and peanut butter are so easy to pack along for long distance trips.

9. Bake Cookies

Cookies are lovely, but peanut butter cookies are even better. If you have an oven readily accessible, buy the following ingredients from Walmart or where ever you shop for groceries:

• Peanut butter
• Sugar
• Packed brown sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Flour
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt

See peanut butter cookies recipe on simplyrecipes.com for more details and baking directions!

10. Make A Peanut Butter Sandwich, Of Course

Letting go of your childhood doesn’t mean you have to let go of those childhood snacks! Peanut butter sandwiches are the most conventional way to eat peanut butter. If plain peanut butter sandwiches aren’t what you like, grab some jelly or jam to make the sandwich sweeter.

CLassy ladies, feel free to stock up on jars of this healthy stuff–now. And read Meaghan’s article for more healthy snack recipes, including peanut butter and banana roll-ups! Stay happy and healthy, CL readers!

Tiana Blue is an intern for College Lifestyles™ and is a print journalism major at Penn State. This sophomore is an avid blogger that loves to write, draw, roam the streets of Manhattan, and channel her inner chef by watching Food Network re-runs.

PB Lovin’ (Part Two-How to Eat)

Most people typically associate peanut butter with the good ol’ pb&j sandwich.  However, there are so many different ways it can be enjoyed.  Whether it be melted, mixed, scooped, or dipped, peanut butter can be used in a variety of ways.  Now that we know what types of peanut butter to get, here are a few of my favorite snacks that involve peanut butter.

1.       Mix it with plain yogurt.  One of my favorite ways to eat peanut butter is melted and mixed into plain, nonfat greek yogurt, such as Fage or Oikos.  You can top it with cereal, granola, or fruit for a great combination of healthy fats, grains, and protein.

2.        On waffles.  For breakfast, I love to make myself a waffle sandwich with peanut butter and banana slices.  It’s a great meal for when you are in a hurry and need something filling and portable.  You can also add jam or use it as a dessert with chocolate chips on top.

3.        On healthy desserts, such as vitatops.  Heaven in dessert form

4.        The classic: in oatmeal.  Whip up a serving of oats and swirl in your favorite peanut butter to liven up the taste.

5.        In a smoothie.  Mix in two tbsp. of peanut butter with some ice, add banana, light chocolate syrup, strawberries, milk, or yogurt for an extra sweet, healthy snack.

Jennifer Williams is a sophomore at Ball State University.  She loves fall days and skinny lattes.

Peanut Butter Lovin’ (Part One)

If any of you are like me, peanut butter is a much favorite snack, dessert, or meal.  Peanut butter can get a bad rep for being processed and loaded with extra sugar and fat, but it is actually very good for you in moderation.  2 Tbsp. is a serving size, which provides not only a good serving of healthy fats, but also many vitamins and minerals your body needs.  Peanut butter contains 8% dietary fiber, protein, vitamin E, Vitamin B3, and other minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.  Most of us think Pb&J when we think of peanut butter, but there are so many ways it can be incorporated into our diet.  Here are a few ideas to bring more pb into your life.

Step 1: choose your peanut butter.

There are so many types of peanut butter out there it can be hard to know which one to choose.  It all depends what you are in the mood for.  There are peanut butter substitutes with less calories and fat, flavored peanut butters, organic, reduced fat, etc, etc.  Here are my top five different types of peanut butters that represent the different variations out there.

1.        Best flavored peanut butter:  PB&Co Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter & PB Loco Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

2.        Best peanut butter substitute:  PB2 or Better ‘n PB

3.        Best creamy peanut butter: Skippy Natural Creamy

4.        Best crunchy peanut butter: 365 Crunchy Peanut Butter

5.        Best natural peanut butter: Smuckers Organic Peanut Butter

Now you have some options, what to do with it? Look for Part Two of Peanut Butter Lovin’ next week!

Jennifer Williams is a sophomore at Ball State University studying Dietetics.  She loves grocery shopping and taste testing all of the free samples.

Take That, Cardboard

This is it.  My last post before I start being a full-time college student again.  As I was hurriedly packing my bags and boxes last week (and stuffing them into the already overflowing Honda), I realized that I hadn’t blogged about one of my favorite dorm room foods yet – rice cakes.  I’ve heard it all – ew, yuck, tastes like cardboard, etc., etc.

But, picture this: whole grains, crispy, crunchy, and 35 calories per serving.  It sounds pretty perfect.  Add some of your favorite creamy or chunky peanut butter, and presto – a quick and delicious treat.  Since they keep longer than bread, they are a great alternative for a dorm room.  Go for the no salt or lightly salted varieties, and enjoy a lower sodium snack.  Click here for nutrition information on Quaker Rice Cakes: Lightly Salted.

Only two ingredients?  Check.

Versatile and easy to store?  Yup.

Relatively inexpensive?  That too.

Take that, cardboard.

Lora Werkmeister is an intern at College Lifestyles (TM) and a Food and Nutrition major at Youngstown State University.  She likes bargain hunting and is slightly addicted to peanut butter.