 Try the more elegant-tasting almond butter as an alternative to PB. Photography by Emily Chang | THE NIBBLE.
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EMILY CHANG is a writer based in New York City.
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August 2009 |
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Earth Balance All Natural Peanut Butter & Almond Butter
Page 2: Varieties Of Earth Balance Peanut Butter & Almond Butter, Enriched With Omega-3s
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Earth Balance Peanut Butter & Almond Butter
Luckily, peanut butter is entering a new era of history: a natural peanut butter that doesn’t separate, maintains itself at room temperature and is ready to spread at a moment’s notice.
Earth Balance has created a patented formula of (truly) trans fat-free peanut butter that benefits even more from added flaxseed, which is rich in heart-healthy omega-3’s; it provides 320mg per serving, or 20% DV.* The sweetener is agave syrup, which has a lower glycemic index than sugar—good news for diabetics and everyone who could stand to cut back on all the sugar hidden in our foods.
*DV, Daily Value, a term found on food labels, is based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), popularly called the Recommended Daily Allowance. Both have been established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences to help consumers use food label information to plan a healthy diet. For example, the Daily Value for fat, based on a 2,000-calorie diet, is 65g (grams). A food that has 13g of fat per serving would state 20% DV on the label, or, the percent Daily Value for fat per serving is 20%.
Earth Balance also puts out a fine almond butter as a delicious alternative for people who have peanut allergies or just prefer the flavor of almonds to peanuts.
Varieties Of Earth Balance Spreads
Creamy Peanut Butter
 There are diehard creamy peanut butter fans and there are diehard crunchy peanut butter fans. This one’s sure to satisfy the first group. The slight sweetness of agave adds a welcome note of complexity to the smooth peanut butter base. Calories per 2 tablespoons: 190; calories from fat, 150.
Crunchy Peanut Butter
We enjoyed the crunchy peanut butter even more than the smooth, but that’s a personal decision. You won’t be able to taste the flaxseed, but you can take comfort in the fact that they’re there, adding a boost of health to your diet. Combine that knowledge with the feel of biting into those wholesome chunks of peanuts, and you’ll feel like the ultimate health nut—without even trying to “eat healthy.”
Creamy Almond Butter
 Thicker than peanut butter, with the sophisticated flavor of roasted almonds, this nut butter is a dream come true for almond lovers. You’ll know that the almonds have been roasted because the butter has a dark, rich, roasty flavor rather than the sweeter, less developed taste of raw almonds.
With the same texture and spreadability as the Earth Balance peanut butter, almond butter of this caliber will appeal to food lovers who appreciate complex flavors on everything from cooked dishes to a simple piece of toast. As with peanut butter, almond butter can be used as an ingredient in everything from sauces to baked goods and ice cream.
Almond butter is slightly lower in calories: 170 per two-tablespoon serving, 140 calories from fat. A serving of almond butter offers more polyunsaturated fat than the two peanut butters (4 grams vs. 1.5-2 grams), while the two peanut butters have more monounsaturated fat than the almond butter (12 grams vs. 9 grams).
Conclusion
Having dipped into the Earth Balance’s healthy nut butters, we were impressed. The “no-stir” formula is so seamless that you won’t be able to tell that they’ve added healthy items like flaxseed and agave. If you love peanuts, you’ll love Earth Balance peanut butter. If you love almonds, you’ll love their almond butter. It’s just that simple.
EARTH BALANCE NATURAL PEANUT AND ALMOND BUTTERS
Creamy Almond Butter, Creamy Peanut Butter, Crunchy Peanut Butter
Certified OU Kosher
Gluten-free & Vegan
- Peanut Butter
16-Ounce Jar
$3.99
- Almond Butter
16-Ounce Jar
$8.99
Purchase at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and other natural retailers.
See EarthBalanceNatural.com for more store information.
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*Prices and product availability are verified at publication but are subject to change.
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