Product Review: PB2

Do you love peanut butter?  When I say "love", I mean can you eat it by the spoonful all on its own?

I can!!!

But I don't because it's quite high in calories and fat.  I do, however, have a tablespoon or two of it on my toast every morning and then try and keep myself away from the jar for the rest of the day (as difficult as that may be).

I love any dessert made with peanut butter and even savory dishes such as my shrimp stir-fry with peanut sauce.  I've been known to use it as a dip for fruits and veggies, mix it into my oatmeal and, as previously mentioned, sometimes eat it all by itself.  I love peanut butter to the point that it would definitely make my list of top 3 food I could live on for the rest of my existence.  

Well...last week I came across a product that has changed my life!!!  At least in terms of my peanut butter obsession.

Introducing...PB2!!!

What is PB2 you ask?
It's peanuts that have been ground up very finely and have had all the fat extracted from.  Obviously this process would significantly decrease the calorie and fat content.  Because the peanuts had to be finely ground, the end product is a powder that you mix with water.  

I know what you're thinking...peanut powder that you mix with water?  Sounds kind of weird, gross, sketchy...I know.  But I promise if someone were to give you final mixed product and tell you it was peanut butter, you would never think to question it.

Or maybe you're thinking...it must be all chemicals...chemicals mixed with water...really gross!!!  Wrong again.  Here are the ingredients:

• Roasted peanuts
• Sugar (very little)
• Salt (very little)

What's the difference in nutritional stats between regular peanut butter and PB2?

Regular peanut butter (2 tbsp. serving):

Calories - 200

Total fat - 16g

Sodium - 120mg

Carbs - 7g

Fibre - 2g

Sugar - 2g

Protein - 7g

PB2 (2 tbsp. serving):

Calories - 45

Total fat - 1.5g

Sodium - 94mg

Carbs - 5g

Fibre - 2g

Sugar - 1g

Protein - 5g

What can you do with PB2?

You can replace any recipe that calls for peanut butter with PB2 without making any other alterations to the recipe (including a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich).  And of course you can just eat it by the spoonful like I do.  The possibilities are endless!

What you should NOT do with PB2?

Personally speaking, I would not use PB2 as a replacement for all my peanut butter consumption.  Peanut butter is a healthy fat and you need a little fat in your diet for things like brain and nervous system function, healthy skin, absorbing fat-soluble vitamins that you would otherwise be deficient in and for producing those ever important female hormones.  I still eat my regular peanut butter in the morning and use PB2 when I'm hungry between meals (and snacks) and to replace peanut butter in recipes.  

P.S.  It also comes in a chocolate peanut butter flavor which may be even better than the original...still trying to decide on that one.