Calling All Peanut Butter Lovers!
Peanut butter has always been one of my absolute favorite foods. Fortunately, smooth nut butters are GP-friendly in small amounts (about 2 tablespoons per day). I regularly include some almond or peanut butter in my daily diet, almost always at breakfast — on toast, in a smoothie, or in hot cereal — since my digestion is best in the morning and the added fat helps to prevent swings in blood sugar the rest of the day. Peanut butter in particular also provides a good amount of vitamin E, magnesium, folate, and protein.
Remember: The gastroparesis diet is low-fat — not no-fat. The body needs some fat to function. The total amount of fat tolerated at one time and over the course of a day varies from person to person. A typical recommendation is about 30-40 grams of fat per day. One tablespoon of regular peanut butter contains about 8 grams of fat.
However, whether my symptoms are flaring up and I have to cut back my overall fat intake or I’ve simply reached my limit for the day, there are times when I wish I could get the protein, flavor and comfort-food feeling of peanut butter without the fat. I’ve tried a variety of “imitation” peanut butters. All I can say, is…blah. And I don’t eat the reduced-fat “peanut butter spreads” because they’re loaded with artificial ingredients that are not at all health promoting (I recommend that my clients avoid these, as well). Plus, they only save you about 2 grams of fat per tablespoon.
Enter…PB2: Powdered Peanut Butter. I stumbled upon it at the grocery store near the Mayo Clinic last week. Essentially, PB2 is a powder made from slow-roasted peanuts that have been pressed to remove most of the fat and oil. To reconstitute it, you just mix in a small amount of water or other liquid.
Powdered peanut butter? With less than 2 grams of fat? I was skeptical. I checked the ingredient label and was pleased to see only three things: peanuts, sugar, and salt. [Compare that to the 15 ingredients in reduced-fat Jif!] While I could do without the sugar, there’s only 1 gram (about 1/4 teaspoon) in two tablespoons of the product. Each two-tablespoon serving also provides 5 grams of vegetarian protein with only 1.5 grams of fat and 2 grams of fiber.
When I got back to the hotel room, I had to try it immediately. The first thing I noticed is that it smells really good — just like real peanuts. So far, so good. I used one tablespoon of water to reconstitute the powder; it combined quickly and easily to make something that looked pretty much like regular peanut butter. My mom and I both tasted it and agreed that while it’s not exactly like regular peanut butter — it’s not as creamy and doesn’t have the stick-to-your-mouth feel — it is pretty good! Once I spread a little on a piece of toast with jelly, I almost couldn’t tell the difference.
Afterward, I started thinking about all of the possible uses for PB2, which also comes in a chocolate variety. In addition to being reconstituted, the powder itself could be added to just about any liquid or soft food — smoothies, hot cereal, yogurt, etc. I even stirred it into a container of baby bananas yesterday to boost the protein content and make my snack a little more interesting. When I get home I’m going to try adding it to my recipe for homemade frozen yogurt!
Final verdict? It’s a good tasting, good quality product that I can see becoming a regular part of a gastroparesis-friendly diet, especially for those who are particularly sensitive to fat. I’ll recommend it to my clients and I’m sure I’ll use it often myself, most likely in soft foods and recipes, leaving me free to enjoy my full-fat nut butters on toast and sandwiches.
Have you tried PB2? Let me know what you think!
Update: A year later, I don’t use this much as a spread but I use it frequently in smoothies and in banana “ice cream.”
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7 Responses to “Calling All Peanut Butter Lovers!”
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I have not tried PB2, but I swear by the “Better than Peanut Butter” that I can get at Trader Joe’s. Unlike many people with GP, I cannot tolerate small doses of real nut butters. Typically when I eat anything have to keep it under 5 grams of fat per serving. It seems like PB2 is very similar, but in powder form.
Anyway, Better than Peanut Butter has only 1 gram of fat per tablespoon and tastes like peanut butter mixed with honey. I have it every morning on toast. Recently, I did my first international trip since my GP diagnosis and I brought a jar of Better than Peanut Butter with me to keep in our vacation rental! It does need to be refrigerated, so maybe I will look for PB2 next time I travel…
Thanks for sharing, Shana! You’re certainly not alone and this just reinforces the fact that everyone is different when it comes to GP & dietary tolerances. I’ve found in working with clients that while there are foods that tend to work for most people, there really aren’t any foods that are universally GP-friendly. I’m a big believer in each individual needing to figure out what works best for them and view the standard diet guidelines mostly as a tool to help in that process.
I found PB2 about a two months ago. I love peanut butter but my stomach doesn’t. This stuff however doesn’t cause problems! I’m glad you are getting the word out about it!
I used to use Peanut Butter as a protein source, especially when I was still working. Unfortunately, I have begun to have problems with digesting (keeping down) the PB and so I have not been able to treat myself as often. I am going to look for this on-line and order a bottle and see how it goes. Excited in a child like way!
This is great information, thank you. I have a question and hope you can help. I’ve read that chinese noodles are bad for GP, yet they’re low in fiber and what I buy, the instant Top Ramen brand, is also low on fat. I know it has a high salt content, but I only use have of the packet that makes the broth, which thereby cuts the salt by half. Would appreciate some insight on this. Here I’ve been eating it thinking it was good for GP. Thank you.
Hi, Gerry. Dietary tolerances vary greatly from person to person. Sounds like the noodles you’re eating are GP-friendly, since they’re low-fat and low-fiber. If they’re not exacerbating you’re symptoms, I don’t see why it’d be a problem. Hope that helps!
THANK YOU! Thank You! I’m sitting at work with a bellyache from too much smooth PB in one sitting. Bumming out because, like you, PB is one of my fave flavors. Now I have some low-fat alternatives to try out. Heading to Trader Joes after work. Thanks again!