If you've been following me on Twitter, you're moderately aware that I am currently in love with Almond Butter. What, you've never heard of almond butter? it's ok. I won't point and laugh. but, man, you're missing out.
do you like peanut butter? do you like almonds? yes and yes? then what are you waiting for?
I've been buying mine at Whole Foods. I like the fresh ground they offer and sometimes splurge on it, but of course it is more expensive per ounce. so I've been buying the 365 Everyday Value Smooth Almond Butter. it's the store brand and cheapest by the ounce that Whole Foods sells. It's also made and distributed in the USA (go America) AND is made from California Almonds.
They have crunchy and smooth. I like both. both are favorites (just like cherry and grape).
I eat almond butter on apples, bananas, toast BUT my absolute favorite is in pita bread with a little honey. if you use more than the recommended serving amount of honey you're negating the fact that almond butter has less sugar than peanut butter. more on that later. Husband just likes his as a sandwich with white bread and a little honey.
So why almond butter?
I'm glad you asked.
1. it's a nice flavor change from peanut butter. seriously. I've been eating peanut butter for 25+ years. it's good. I like it. but it gets old after a while. now I have an alternative.
2. it only has one ingredient: dry roasted almond (my brand, anyway). The Jiff Creamy Peanut Butter that I'm looking at right now has EIGHT. thus, making almond butter a more whole food, which is better for our bodies anyway.
3. it beats Jiff in almost every Nutrition Facts category.
- calories: same
- total fat: same but AB has 1/2 the saturated fat
- sodium: AB has less 5mg versus 150mg
- total carb: AB has less 6g to 7g
- dietary fiber: AB has more 4g to 2g
- sugars: AB has less 2g to 3g
- protein: same
my only negative on this brand of almond butter is that because it is a whole food without any hydrogenated oils or thickeners, oil separation naturally occurs. to you have to stir it around before it's a spreadable consistency. I've found this is the messiest when you open the jar for the first time, and gets better every time.
in closing, I think a great breakfast is almond butter and honey on pita bread, an orange and a half a cup of Sumatran coffee (maybe that'll be next week's Food-Day Friday).
do you eat almond butter? what do you eat it with?
