Grondar

Lately, I find myself eating a lot of the same things, with the variety coming at supper, when my folks cook or we go out..

I usually eat Oatmeal with orange juice for breakfast, and then have a peanut-butter and marshmallow sandwich (or two), some yogurt, granola bar, and some fruit for lunch. I also take a multi-vitamin, vitamin C, fish oil, and less frequently, a vitamin E, and Iron tablet.

I really like PB&M sandwhiches a lot, but I am wondering if they are considered unhealthy or not?

Peanut-butter has a lot of fat it seems, but given the fact that I don't eat a lot, and my breakfast is pretty bland, I am not sure if having the PB&M's is a bad thing or not.

The few months to a year I have really started to watch what I eat. I don't eat fast food anymore, don't drink soda, beer, or eat a lot of greasy and junk foods.. This actually happened as a result of my eating style, and not a mission to eat well. However, since then I have started to realize that I enjoy eating reasonably healthily, so I am trying to continue the trend.

The reason I am focusing in on Peanut-Butter and Marshmallow sandwhiches is because I do seem to eat them on a pretty regular basis, and if they are in fact considered unhealthy, and "bad," then I'll look for something better to eat for lunch every day.

Does anyone have thoughts, experiences, or information about this? If so, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

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rockzilla

Lose the marshmallows, they're nothing but processed sugar. If you want something a little healthier but still sweet, try PB & honey.

Grondar

Thanks for the reply.

Would PB & Honey be better than Jelly, or something else?

Also, is the PB part ok? It seems that the PB is fine, but that the other half of the sandwhich may be the concern..

Also, as a direct follow-up question.. How is honey healthier? Is it because it is more "natural," or is there another reason?

Thanks!

__________________
"Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that." -Stewie

Yakk

I think other than the "natural"ness of honey, it isn't any better than marshmellows. Ie, marshmellows will have some serious chemical play in them. Honey will be equally processed, but by bees instead of by machines.

For the PB, think about buying "just peanuts" PB. Kraft makes a brand of it (if you like brands), and you can get less processed stuff either at your supermarket, or a local health food store. (less processed = small penut flakes left, but still pretty smooth)

(When you buy "real" PB, give it a good stir then refrigerate it: unlike the sugar/chemcial additive-filled standard PB, real PB is quite liquidy at room tempurature, and oil seperation happens.)

Second, switch to whole wheat bread (not brown, whole wheat). With a bit of getting used to at most, it tastes just as good as white bread in a sandwich, and it is better for you. Still not perfect, but better!

Glycemic Index:
http://www.runningplanet.com/article...article_id=430

(Hmm, did learn some things about honey that might make my earlier statement incorrect. Honey is apparently high in fructose as opposed to glucose. Fructose is absorbed into the body slower than glucose.)

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Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.

la petite moi

A peanutbutter and jelly sandwich is healthier for you because jam is real fruit, I believe. Marshmallows are just sugar and gelatin (poor horsies).

rockzilla

Yep. The rest of what you said about whole wheat bread and natural peanut butter is good advice too.
Normal grocery store peanut butter, while being a good source of protein also has a lot of sugars that you don't really want. Read a few labels comparing 'normal' PB and 'natural' PB. You're looking for less carbohydrates, sugar specifically.

The same thing goes for jam too. Not all of it is made with real fruit, read the labels, you'll see.

Charlatan

Go for Peanut Butter and Bananas and you've nailed it... The bananas are better than jam and probably better than honey.

Definately go for the whole wheat bread. White bread is not especially good for you.

If you can stand it go for the just nuts type of peanut butter... the fat is good fat rather than the trans fat found in "normal" PB.

__________________
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- Old Man Luedecke

Grondar

Thanks for the replies.

When you say bannannas, do you mean just slice up a bannanna and put it on the other piece of bread?

Regarding the "just nuts" peanut butter.. Do they sell that at grocery stores, or do I have to go to speciality stores for that?

Thanks for the advice and replies.

I've had whole weat bread before, and like bannannas, so I am willing to make this switch. I also will try out honey, so the issue now is finding the other kind of peanut-butter you are recommending.

Thanks!

__________________
"Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that." -Stewie

shakran

When I was a kid I used to love peanutbutter and marshmallow sandwiches. But then, when I was a kid I could consume enough sugar in one day to crystalize an ant colony.

Yeah, it's unhealthy. Anything that sticky and gooey has GOT to be bad for you

The PB and bananas suggestion is a good one - tastes great and not bad for you. Also try peanut butter on apple slices. Very good.

Cowman

Honey isn't great for you, either, I wouldn't suggest it. Certainly over marshmellows, but not above bananas or nothing at all.

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SparklingDot

Do you have to have PB? I happen to like a nice cream cheese and tomato sandwhich. Toast the bread, use low fat cream cheese, thick slices of a good tomato. Even add other veggies if you want.

My favorite sandwhich trick is to replace any mayo with low fat cream cheese. Tastes better to me. Good luck with your quest for lunch!

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Yakk

PB and Banana sandwich, traditional version:
Toast two pieces of whole wheat bread.
Spread just-nuts PB on both slices (do this while hot, makes spreading easier), and return PB to fridge.
Open the Banana partially
Cut the banana into medallions, and tile one of the slices of bread with it. Use the PB to glue the banana to the bread. This will use about half a Banana
Close sandwich.

Eat sandwich wrapped in paper napkin (PB will melt and might drip, cleaner this way).

Either eat rest of Banana on own immediately, or use saran wrap and eat it as a mid-morning snack.

PB and Banana sandwich, fun version:
Take Banana, open completely.
Cut Banana length-wise, so that both halves are the same shape and can lie flat.
Spread the preanut butter carefully on one slice of of the Banana. Careful: this is difficult.
Place other half of Banana on top of PB, making a sandwich.
Using sharp knife, cut PB&B into small, bite-sized mini sandwiches.
Eat.

After about 1 hour, you should be able to speak again. =)
(I haven't tried the just-nuts version with real PB, just the Peanut margerine mass produced crap as a kid, so the viscosity might not be right.)

As for just-nuts PB, you can get the Kraft stuff in most grocery stores. Kraft just-nuts. Many stores also stock a non-brand-name just-nuts PB, at least around here. Remember, real PB needs refrigeration (I'm repeating this too much, methinks!)

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Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.

Charlatan

The perfect PB and Banana sandwich...

Ingredients:

two slices of whole wheat bread
one banana
peanut butter


Spread peanut butter on both slices of bread to desired thickness (some like a lot of PB some like a little). Slice the banana and pile evenly on one of the slices. Put the other slice, PB side down, on the top. Consume.

For a change you can toast the bread first.


As for where can you get the "just nuts" you should be able to find it in a well stocked gorcery store. My wife brings home organic just nuts for our daughter from our local grocery store. Personally I'm all about Kraft Peanut Butter. Can't stand "just nuts" but if you really, really want to be healthy... go "just nuts".

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Grondar

Thanks for the info. The cooking and preparation tips are great.

I picked up some peanut-butter today, but I am still not sure if it is the "healthy" kind.

The kind I bought is:

Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter (Creamy)

There is a box on the left that reads, "Made without hydrogenated oils," and, "0 grams Trans Fatty Acids."

The serving/nutritional information is as follows: 16g fat, 2.5 grams sat fat, 120 mg sodium, 6 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1 g sugars, and 8 g protein.

I just drove home from the store, and it's pretty hot out, so when I turn the jar around the peanut-butter is very liquid-like; almost like a milk shake.

Lastly, on the other side, it says that, "Oil seperation is natural. Just stir and refrigerate."

Does this sound like the right peanut-butter, or do I still have the "kid" kind?

Thanks!

__________________
"Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that." -Stewie

Charlatan

Sounds like a "natural" peanut butter to me. When it is made wihout hydrogenated oil (or trans fats) the natural oils seperate in PB.

You will need to refridgerate and stir. Other than that... go to town.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

exizldelfuego

As far as peanut butter goes, I swear by Adam's Natural peanut butter. Ingredients: Peanuts, 1% or less of salt. It's the best out there.

As far as sandwiches go... try this out. It's an open faced sandwich. Spread peanut butter on both slices of bread, sprinkle cinnamon on, spread apple sauce on, drizzle a little honey, and then slice a banana over it. It's awesome, tastes great, feels good, and keeps me going for just about the whole day.

Cowman

Grondar: That is a "healthy" peanut butter, but its a healthy peanut butter manufactured by a big company, meaning it's not going to be the *best* you can get.

If you have a local health food store, go there. The peanut butter you get should be a bit darker then the stuff you're used to.

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Jadey

I like the "quickie" penaut butter and banana sandwich myself. I take a wheat tortilla spread peanut butter on it, peel a banana, then wrap the tortilla around the banana. I probably eat this 3 or 4 times a week. Fast and easy.

Church

This is all too appropriate right now.

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Ilow

some good replies in here, especially regarding the natural PB and the differences between the fructose of honey vs. the sucrose in Jams and 'mallow (also honey is 2x sweeter than table sugar, so you need less). It also sounds like you have a sweet tooth like me so you might want to try what i do: putting some Splenda crystals in with the natural PB to make it taste more like the "bad" PB. Also, don't forget, a lot of people like raisins on their PB and 'nana sandwiches!

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G5_Todd

i was going to suggest peanut butter and banana also

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