64 MensHealth.com | December 2016 PHOTOGRAPH BY SAM KAPLANFood + Nutrition
What's Missing Inside the Jar?
The fine print on some PB jars may get your nuts in a jumble. One reads “made with 60 percent peanuts.”
What makes up the other 40 percent? Corn syrup solids, pea protein, and some delicious ferric ortho-
phosphate, among other things. To reap the maximum heart-health benefits of peanuts’ monounsaturated
fatty acids, always scan the ingredient list and make sure peanuts appear first and little else follows.Welch’s
Concord
Grape
Jelly
Per Tbsp:
45 calories,
13g sugarCrofter’s
Premium
Concord
Grape
Organic
Per Tbsp:
30 calories,
8g sugarLook, it’s jelly. It’s gonna
have sugar. But if you
spread sparingly, you’ll
minimize the calorie load
and actually taste the
PB in your sandwich.Life and sandwiches used
to be simple: You had
your creamy or chunky
PB, and you had your
jelly. But now, thanks to
some great new nut
butters, life is deliciously
complicated. Valerie
Berkowitz, R.D., of New
York City’s Center for
Balanced Health, suggests
choosing a one- or two-
ingredient spread with
less than 2 grams of sugar
per serving. These three
jars topped the crop.Santa Cruz Organic
Light Roasted PB
(Crunchy)
Most chunky peanut
butters undersell on
the chunky. This brand,
however, studs every
spoonful with a payload
of coarsely chopped
peanuts. It’s also barely
salted, leaving the nuts
free to unleash all their
roasty-toasty flavor.Justin's Classic
Almond Butter
Some almond butters
are cut with added sugar.
This stuff has just 1 gram
of natural sugar and no
salt, leaving you with that
mellow almond flavor.
“If you want almonds,
it’s just right,” one tester
commented. Justin’s also
sells squeeze packs to
toss in your lunch bag.Once Again Organic
Cashew Butter
One taster commented
that this stuff could stand
in for dessert—and that’s
saying something, since
its sweetness comes
naturally from nuts (and
nuts only). Does organic
really taste better? This
jar scored a point higher
than the company’s non-
organic cashew butter.Sweet Swap,
Smart Move
Bust Out of Your Nut Rut
Cashew, almond, and peanut butters are loaded with heart-healthy good fats
and hunger-crushing protein. We taste-tested 13 of the best. Grab a spoon.
PER 2 TBSP 190 calories,
7g protein, 6g carbohydrates
(3g fiber, 1g sugar), 18g fatPER 2 TBSP 180 calories,
5g protein, 8g carbohydrates
(1g fiber, 0g sugar), 16g fatPER 2 TBSP 210 calories,
7g protein, 6g carbohydrates
(2g fiber, 1g sugar), 17g fatFood styling: Michelle Gatton/Stockland Martel (nut butters); RYAN O. (jelly), MICHAEL BRANDON MYERS (icon)