PB2: Powdered Peanut Butter

 
If you love peanut butter, than you need to try PB2. PB2 is powdered peanut butter. The ingredients include: Roasted peanuts, Sugar, and Salt. Just mix 2tbsp of peanut powder with 1tbsp of water. Mix until smooth. Voila! Peanut butter!

I first heard of this product from a friend who competes in figure competitions. As you may know, the training and dieting is very intense for those athletes. My friend loved peanut butter, but unfortunately it wasn't on her diet.

One day my boyfriend and I were out shopping and decided to "browse" around one of the MANY "nutrition" stores. Well....we came across PB2. We were amazed at the nutrition facts. (Yes, I read EVERY label before I buy anything. I am "that" person comparing two or three different items in the store to make sure I know what I will be eating). Anyways, we were however, surprised by the price. It's about $7 for a 6.5oz jar. I could buy two 40oz jars of Jif for that price at Sams Club. So, we agreed to pass on buying it there, but immediately looked it up on Amazon.com when we got home. (Love, love, love Amazon!) On Amazon you can find a 6.5oz jar for about $5, plus, if you order more than 1 you can usually get a discount. Of course, we ordered it!

When the package came, it was like Christmas. We were both so excited to try this (pretty much calorie free) peanut butter.

Now, I've got to be honest....it definitely doesn't taste like Jif, Skippy, or Peter Pan. It tastes like organic peanut butter but without the oil.  Considering it's peanut butter, with minimal calories and fat, I was pretty impressed.

PB2 vs. Jif

PB2: 1.5g fat, 5g carb, 5g pro, 94mg salt

Jif: 16g fat, 7g carb, 7g pro, 150mg salt

** If you look at the nutrition facts of PB2 and Jif, each serving size is 2tbsp. However, when you mix the PB2 with water, you are left with 1tbsp of smooth peanut butter.
So....  2tbsp of mixed PB2 = 90kcal, 3g fat, 10g carb, 10 g pro, 188mg salt. 
(Food labels can be tricky!)

** If you have High Blood Pressure or following a Cardiac diet, take notice of the sodium in PB2 and in regular peanut butter. A No-added Salt peanut butter or Unsalted peanut butter may be more within your diet. Remember: your daily allowance for Sodium is about 2000mg. (1tsp = 2000mg of sodium).


What to do with PB2??

• Throw it in a smoothie
• Bake with it
• Dip an apple in it
• Use in replace of regular peanut butter for a PB&J
• Eat it by the spoonful!

If you're looking for the peanut taste but with less calories/fat then try PB2. Leave a comment letting me know what you think and if you used PB2 in a recipe!

**There is a Chocolate PB2 too!! :) **

What is a RD?!?!

So what is a RD??

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RD credential:

• Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Completed a supervised practice program (Internship) at a health-care facility, community agency, or a food-service corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.
• Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

Some RDs hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice. These are awarded through CDR, the credentialing agency for the Academy, and/or other medical and nutrition organizations and are recognized within the profession, but are not required.
Some of the certifications include pediatric, renal nutrition, sports dietetics, nutrition support and diabetes education.
In addition to RD credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners.(AND, eatright.org)

In O-chem!

Aww..graduation!

To sum up the above description: 
It takes, at least, 4 long years to get a Bachelors Degree (including suffering through Organic chemistry, Microbiology, and many many many more science classes!)

At least 7 months of surviving an internship (basically working for free).

Finally, studying AND passing a nationally certified exam.

Also, RDs have to maintain a Code of Ethics, which includes evidenced based practice. For example, nutritional education and therapies must be backed by scientific research.
We just don't make this stuff up! 

Now everyone knows what RD stands for and represents! Phew!

A new adventure

Hiking at Mt. Charleston

I have decided to join the blogging world! 

This is a huge step for me, well, because, I am really not the one to consistently update a profile. However, I feel like blogging is an opportunity to easily communicate with people.

 I have recently become a RD.  For those of you who do not know what those initials stand for,  RD= Registered Dietitian. RDs are very different from nutritionists, dietary personnel and even dietitians. Later, I will explain just what RDs do! 

 Other than my career, I have a wonderful boyfriend, 4 cats (yes, I said 4) and the newest addition to my little family....a guinea pig! Yes, my friends and family think that I am the "crazy cat lady," however, in my defense, I am not single!

The reason I started this blog is to feature different nutritional tid-bits, recipes, easy diet changes, and much more about food, nutrition, and wellness. Also, to get you excited about food! I feel that "we" have become so concerned with calories, fat, carbs and losing weight, that food has become an enemy rather than a fun, creative, exciting friend! 

 
I tell all my patients to "make grocery shopping, cooking, and diet changes fun!" I say get creative and go try that crazy looking, brown, hairy thing in the produce section! 

Make it an activity, not a chore!