Back to School Snacks: Peanut Butter Edition!

Get those peanut butter blobs, Pac-Man!

The rumors that peanut butter is super fattening just ain't true. In fact,
it fills you up without filling you out. You are less likely to binge on junk food if you eat a spoonful or two of this protein-packed spread. And, that is why it makes the perfect snack for school! All those study sessions and mid-morning AP classes could have you in a whirl. So, swap the ice cream taco from the vending machine and pick up something better like a peanut butter snack. (It will be a helluva lot cuter, too!)

3 Benefits of Peanut Butter:

1. Healthy Fat!
Peanut butter is full of monounsaturated fat, the good kind of fat! The American Heart Association found that monounsaturated fats reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood, which in turns lower the risk of heart disease and stroke!

2. Nutrition!
 A 2 tbs serving gives you...

• 3 mg vitamin E (antioxidant) 
• 49 mg of magnesium (builds strong bones)
• 208 mg of potassium (builds muscle) 
• 0.17 mg of vitamin B6 (boosts immunity)

3. Weight Loss!
As I mentioned before, peanut butter can aid weight loss because it curbs appetite. The fiber and the protein help you feel fuller longer, so you won't reach for another snack an hour later! Of course, eat peanut butter in moderation, even too much of a good thing can be harmful. Personally, I eat 2 tbs of this protein packed spread every other day or three times a week.

Allergic?

There are a number of alternatives including almond butter, soy butter, pumpkin seed butter, and sunflower seed butter just to name a few. They all provide healthy fats and each spread have their own characteristics, such as the omega 3 fats from the yummy almond butter.

Snack #1: Sweet n' Salty (Quaker Popped Chips with 2 tbs. of Peanut Butter or Alternative Spread)

Let's do the math...

13 Quaker Popped Snack Chips!

• 110-120 calories depending on desired flavor. Here are just some of the sweet chips that go dashingly well with peanut butter. Pick your flavor: Caramel Corn, Kettle Corn, Apple and Cinnamon, and Chocolate

or (my personal favorite)

13 Quaker Multigrain Fiber Crisps Blackberry Pomegranate (also available in Wild Blueberry)

+

2 tbs of desired spread

=

Heaven on a Plate (and 330 calories maximum!)

Snack #2: Mr. Bear (Toast, Banana slices, blueberries, and 1 tbs. of spreadable yum)

The cutest snack in the history of the cutest snacks brightens up your day even when you have a math test first period. And, babysitters, here is a great snack for kiddies!

1 slice of whole grain toast

+

3 banana slices

+

3 blueberries

+

1 tbs of desired spread

=

Ultra Cuteness... (appox. 180 calories)
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Snack smartly and study hard this year, lovlies!

xoxo,

Kelsey

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