Crunchy peanut butter

Discovered a new favorite tonight: Crunchy peanut butter.

Don't laugh. I'm serious.

At work tonight, I found a loaf of whole grain bread, some preserves and a jar of crunchy peanut butter. What a terrific sandwich. It felt like a guilty pleasure eating it, but I did some research and it's really not all bad ... as long as you eat it in moderation.

I put sugary preserves on mine, but it could be made in a healthier way ... maybe with banana slices or other fruit. A tablespoon of peanut butter has about 100 calories, so factor in the whole grain bread (75 calories/slice) and banana (100 calories). All in all, you've got yourself a 350-calorie meal that's very filling. And look at the health benefits:

• "Peanut butter provides protection against cardiovascular disease due to high levels of monounsaturated fats and resveratrol; butter prepared with the skin of the peanuts has a greater level of resveratrol and other health-aiding agents. Peanut butter (and peanuts) provide protein, vitamins B3 and E, magnesium, folate, dietary fibre, arginine, and high levels of the antioxidant p-coumaric acid." (Wikipedia)

• "Banana is known for promoting healthy digestion and creating a feeling of youthfulness. They help promote the retention of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen — all of which then work to build sound and regenerated tissues. Banana also contains invert sugar, which is an aid to youthful growth and metabolism." (asianonlinerecipes.com)

• "Consuming foods rich in fiber, such as whole grains, as part of a healthy diet, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. Consuming foods rich in fiber, such as whole grains, as part of a healthy diet, may reduce constipation. Eating at least 3 ounce equivalents a day of whole grains may help with weight management. Eating grains fortified with folate before and during pregnancy helps prevent neural tube defects during fetal development." (MyPyramid.gov)

OK, I'm getting hungry just typing this ... wonder if there's any left over there? LOL