Peanut Butter....(low carb/low fat/low sugar/organic/creamy)

Hi...I would usually just email or call Pam or Jill at Centennial w/this question, but since it is Friday night I was wondering if anyone who sees Dr. Houston/Dr. Dyer/Dr. Olsen (or anyone else...I'd like to hear what e'one has to say) had any information on if we should be having any peanut butter at all.

I am guessing it's a big, fat (no pun intended) "NO" because it's not listed anywhere that I can find in our Gastric Bypass Owner's Manual. I have been following my Stage 3 plan to a "T" and haven't wavered, but yesterday I mixed about 1/4 tsp of peanut butter into a Vanilla Carb Master Yogurt because for the first time since surgery I had a craving for something sweet (it's great being female once a month...bleeck!) & it was so, so, so, so (I could go on) good that I was wondering if it was "legal".

The type of peanut butter I buy (for my kiddos) is from Whole Foods (but I have seen it at Publix, too) and it is organic, creamy peanut butter that is low carb/low fat & low sugar, but it tastes exactly like normal PB.  Now, I don't know what that means, because who knows what it is "low" compared to...I just tend to buy all organic & low sugar for my hubby & kiddos...but, if anyone had any info on peanut butter I'd love to hear it...thanks, Micheala.

I was told that I can have the NATURAL peanut butter, but to use it occasionally.

It is good for you in regards to protein and in "good" carbs, but if I were you I would use it sparingly.

I'm not sure if you had RNY or band, but if RNY then even "low sugar" may make you dump.  The natural peanut butter is only peanuts that are ground up.  Some added peanut oil may be added.

If you shop at Whole Foods, you might want to try the "grind it yourself" peanut butter.  They have a couple of choices with flavors (roasted, raw, with chocolate, etc) but be careful that you watch the sugars.

I hope that this helps.

Michael.

Yup, I figured it should be used sparingly....I got the natural PB from Whole Foods, but not the grind-it-yourself kind. I will try that next time if the sugar is low (yes, I had RNY 7 weeks ago--not sure that I dump, but I am counting on the fact/hope that I do & not taking any chances....).

Thanks, Micheala.

I have been reading LOTS of peanut butter jars, because it has always been a favorite of mine...  One thing I noticed first was the "no sugar added" which actually had more calories and more calories from fat. 

The ones I've found (and I've NOT been to a natural food store) but the ones I've found better at Kroger and Wal-mart have been just the low-fat peanut butter. 

NOW..  with that being said, low-fat peanut butter is DRIER than normal peanut butter, so I empty a jar and whip it with low-fat/skim milk, to make a peanut butter cream.

I don't know if that will cause a dump for you, because I don't have to worry about dumps, but it goes down much easier as the whip peanut butter.

That is just my opinion of peanut butter...  hope it helps a little!?!?

HUGS

Amy, great pickup on the fact that low sugar has more fat, also typically low fat has more sugar! Peanut butter, as Micheala so accurately suggested is a big no-no because for only 6 grams of protein, you are using 190 calories and usually 14 or so grams of fat per serving (which is about the size of a ping pong ball). We generally advise avoiding peanut butter because the high fat/calorie content and low protein; however, having said that if you are truly only using 1/4 teaspoon to flavor something, then I think that would be fine. I have had patients dump on peanut butter (myself included!)
Hope everyone is getting ready for another wet, soggy weekend in TN!

Thanks, Pam (& welcome back...)--I just saw your post after I read Amy's.....I had a feeling if it wasn't in the "Bariatric Bible" that we have from Centennial then it wasn't a good idea.  Sure did taste good in the Vanilla Carb Master Yogurt, but not worth the dump!

Thanks again.....how did your meeting go?  xo, M.

I sure missed you guys at the meeting, but I'm sure Kathy took wonderful care of you all. The meeting was good. There were lots of self funded employers there and each one I asked - do you cover bariatric surgery for your employees? A few said yes, but if the answer was no, then I asked them, "Now, why is that?" They everyone either said cost or complications - so you know I had solutions for both!

See you all soon -

Amy--thanks--I actually stood in two stores today in their PB sections and compared so many jars my eyes crossed.  I definitely noticed that reading lables is so important--reduced fat had more calories and low sugar had more fat.  PB is definitely not something that is going to be replacing the yummy Chipolte Mango Tuna I am eating right now (gosh this is good!!).....xo, M.

If you want the taste of peanut butter, there are a few options.  One is zero calorie, zero fat, zero everything.  Davinci coffee syrups make a sugar free peanut butter flavor syrup.  You can order them from most protein stores online, but I have never seen it locally.  You can add an ounce of it to your protein shakes (its great with chocolate), or I'm sure you could add some to your yogurt but you will not get a consistency of thickness as its a thin syrup.  for a full list of flavors, check out Davinci Gourmet.

Also, there is a product called PB2.  It's put out by a place called Bell Plantation and its a dry peanut butter.  It has much less stats and adding one teaspoon to your shake or even yogurt would be wonderful.  Here are the comparisons:

Serving size:  2 tblsp (you may not need but a few teaspoons, not tablespoons)

PB2  Cal: 54 / Fat: 3 / Carbs: 4 / Sugar: 1 / Protein: 4
JIFF REDUCED FAT:  Cal:190 / Fat: 12 / Carbs: 15 minus 2 dietary fibers = 13 net carbs / Sugar: 4 / Protein: 8

Yes while it may be true that Jiff will have more protein, you are already getting 12 g protein in your carbmasters yogurt so you are good to go.  AND, PB2 also comes in a chocolate flavor.  You can also just add water and eat the peanut butter off a spoon.

I want to toss this thought in as well.  When I had surgery, I realy believed that I would never eat certain foods ever again.  Yes, I can have those foods in moderation since I am at goal weight, BUT I choose not to.  If I can do it reduced calorie, reduced carb, then that is my first choice.  Having good substitutes allow me to enjoy these things more frequently (than say once a month), but things that I do not have daily or even every other, every two days...  more like, whenever I get the real desire for them.  I can do it guilt free, knowing that I have great choices available to me.  Then there isn't a question or guilt that I've done something that has broken the rules.  Finding great alternatives isn't just a good habit during the weight loss mode, but as we have learned, this postop life is forever...  what works for you now, you can carry through for a lifetime...  or until a better sub comes out (I'm still waiting for a zero calorie, zero carb, zero sugar, zero fat ice cream but hey, a girl can dream!)

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Mel--I couldn't agree more!!  I think it was the consistency of the PB that I was liking...reminded me of frozen yogurt w/PB Cups mixed in it....so, I think that since I have spent a day & 1/2 hyper-focused on the PB that it is something I should just stay away from for now.

I am going to look into the PB2 & eat my tuna!!  xo, Micheala.

P.S.  YES...let me know when that zero/zero/zero ice cream comes out & when the zero/zero/zero milk chocolate is available, too! :).