Peanut Butter - how healthy is it?

[2catsand1rabbit]

I have a 2 year who loves the stuff. He probably has it every other day but is it any good for him? It probably has quite alot of salt?

If you buy a brand llike Meridian then all that is in it is peanuts www.meridianfoods.co.uk/index.asp?Dietry=Wheat%20Free&details=50
which is perfectly healthy

I think it's fine (in moderation). DD loves it too and wolfs the stuff down. I get an organic brand with lower sugar and salt (Sunpat etc have got huge amounds of salt and sugar).

DD's vegetarian so I think it's quite a useful source of fat and protein for her.

And it's tasty :)

Definitely buy the ones without sugar added. Most of the organic ones don't have added sugar. Peanut butter in itself is not bad for anyone without allergies except that obviously peanuts are high in (healthy) fat so no one should eat it to excess.

DH also adores the stuff, hence my strict "no sugar added" rule. Sadly, it means te oily runny ones are out - we've yet to find one of those without sugar.

Bling there is one without sugar which I sometimes buy called 'whole earth organic' but there is salt in it. Will have a look at the ones without salt or sugar (bet they don't taste as good though!!!) Thanks everyone x

I buy Sainsburys organic which has no sugar - I think there's a little salt. Also less palm oil than Whole Earth.
It's my 2.6yo's main protein source, along with milk and egg and the odd sausage.

2cats - I buy whole earth organic too quite often. But it's quite grainy and dry so DH doesn't like it as much.

we have the whole earth or sains organic one as they had the least salt/sugar in when I spent time comparing (a couple of years ago now)

you could always make your own?

• put peanuts in a plastic bag
• hit with a rolling pin until knackered
• eat

I'm sure you could probably use a blender, but that doesn't seem like so much fun

IMO a lot of peanut butters on the market are unhealthy as they contain palm oil which is high in sat fat.