Last night my brother texted me saying "Tomorrow is National Peanut Butter Day!"
I wrote back "Awesome!!! I should celebrate by eating peanut butter for every meal!"
And then I realized that I did that yesterday. And the day before that, and the day before that. Which is probably why my brother notified me of National Peanut Butter Day.
I love peanut butter.
My family eats a lot of it. A lot, a lot, of it. We've eaten 4 cases of peanut butter since the case lot sale in October!
Why so much peanut butter?
It's cheap
It's nutritious
It's convenient
At about $1.25 a jar, peanut butter is one of the least expensive forms of protein. Two Tablespoons provide 50% of a toddler's protein needs for the DAY! It's also high in iron and zinc, which are important for a toddler's brain development. The healthy unsaturated fat found in peanut butter will keep you (and your little ones) full.
Peanut butter is also the most convenient form of protein for lunches: peanut butter sandwiches stay safe without refrigeration.
Besides PBJ, what are my favorite ways to use peanut butter?
#1 Peanut Butter Oatmeal: https://www.ddinutrition.com/peanutbutteroatmeal
This is our go-to breakfast. My kids eat it almost every day and love it. It has more protein and fat than breakfast cereal, which means it keeps little tummies full for hours.
#2 Peanut Butter Pumpkin Muffins: https://www.ddinutrition.com/no-flour-pumpkin-muffins
I make these muffins in the BLENDER, they are that easy. Just blend, pour into muffin cups and bake. One muffin has enough protein to meet a child's needs for the day.
#3 Peanut Butter Green Smoothie: https://www.ddinutrition.com/green-smoothie
I always feel full and refreshed after eating this smoothie each morning. I keep ripe bananas and spinach in my freezer for this smoothie.
Those are my top 3 peanut butter recipes!
Do you love peanut butter too? Let me know in the comments! Looking for more peanut butter recipes? Try my oatmeal peanut butter cookies or my pumpkin peanut butter curry, both are a great way to celebrate national peanut butter day. Or sign up for February's cooking class, we're making peanut noodles! (signups will go out next week).
Happy National Peanut Butter Day!
Nicole