Is PB2 for You?

If you haven’t heard of PB2, it’s a powdered peanut butter that’s made by pressing the peanuts to remove most of the oil, while maintaining the protein and fiber content. The process turns the peanuts into a kind of peanut powder that when mixed with liquid resembles peanut butter, minus the fat.

 My clients have been asking,"Is this good for me? Should I be eating this instead of peanut butter?" My answer: it depends. Not a very straight-forward answer, I know, but it depends on whether you’re trying to lose weight or keep your calories down --even if you’re not trying to lose weight -- or whether you can use the extra healthy fat and calories.

 For those of you unfamiliar with PB2, it is frequently used in smoothies, oatmeal, as a peanut butter spread on toast and in sauces and other entrees. It provides a boost of fiber and protein with a fraction of the calories. Here’s how the two compare:

 So I’ve been experimenting with variations of PB2 and peanut butter lovers beware, it just isn’t the same. I combined 1 Tbsp. PB2 + 2 teaspoons water

PB2 + Water

and spread it on my toast....

PB2 Toast

I know some people rave about it, but for me, I’d rather use less peanut butter and have the real thing. Strike One for me.

 I then tried PB2 in my oatmeal…Hmmph peanut butter in oatmeal doesn’t work for me. I love the crunch of almonds in my oatmeal, but not the flavor of peanut butter. Strike 2 for me. Lots of people on the internet say they like to boost the protein in their oatmeal with PB2, so please do try it and see if it works for you!

 Ok, how about PB2 in oatmeal cookies or banana muffins? Yep, found those recipes too-- that’s gotta be good, right? Terrible. I tried an internet recipe for each of these.  Both got the thumbs down at my house. The texture was funky -- not enough fat, I suspect. Strike 3 for me. Again,  lots of people rave about them on the internet….

Next I tried smoothies -- A PB2 & Banana Smoothie and a High Protein-PB2 Smoothie. These worked pretty well. My son wouldn't drink the High Protein version -- he prefers fruit smoothies, and I'm not a big smoothie person, but definitely worth a try if you like smoothies. The High Protein recipe, is quite high in protein, which makes it a popular choice for many. You can get both recipes here.

My final attempt: PB2 Sauce for Chicken Lettuce Wraps. This recipe worked better than any of the above experiments and is much, much lower in calories than traditional peanut sauces. It seemed slightly chalky when I taste-tested just the sauce, but mixed with the chicken, broccoli slaw and shredded carrots, wrapped in lettuce or a tortilla, was good.  I’ll make this again for a high protein lunch option, and I used leftovers in a kale salad, which I liked even better!

 What’s the Bottom Line?

PB2 can be a great choice for people who are 1. trying to lose weight, 2. controlling calories, 3. want to give smoothies and other foods a protein boost or 4. just plain like the stuff. But it’s not a magic bullet. I'm sticking with the real thing.

 I’d love to hear from you…have you tried PB2?  Do you like it?

And if you have tasty recipes, please send them to me! The recipes I found are duds.

Disclosure: I do not receive compensation from any company or product shown or mentioned in this post. The information contained in this article are my opinions only and should not be construed as medical advice or treatment.