Things I Love Thursday: Natural Peanutbutter

Have you ever wondered about what is in your peanut butter? I've been thinking a lot about what peanut butter is the best for us, esp. since little Hannah has just started eating it and loving it. The frugal side of me has been resistive to trying any other kind of peanut butter. I can usually get peanut butter for $1 or even less for a jar using coupons or buying the store brand on sale. However, after talking to some other mom friends, I have been enlightened about what all is in that peanut butter that I can get for a steal. I have learned that "regular" peanut butter has hydrogenated oils and sugar in it. The hydrogenated oils keep the peanut butter from separating and increase it's shelf life. It also makes it harder for the system to digest. The sugars suppress the immune system and depletes vital vitamins and minerals. I'm not opposed to a little sugar, nor will we never eat "regular" peanut butter again, but if this is what I'm giving little Hannah for a meal, I want it to be healthy and of good nutritional value.

At our last MOPS meeting we had a gift swap of something from your home that you "just can't live without". It was really fun to see what other moms brought in: Anything from parchment paper to ice cream to razors :) I brought my favorite cinnamon plus spice blend to share and went home with a jar of Trader Joes natural peanut butter. I was so excited to get to try it for free! Hannah and I actually had it for lunch that day. Guess what the ingredients are?! You guessed it...peanuts! Peanuts and salt...that's it. Yeah for natural and nutritional! No additives, no sugar, and minimal processing. I was excited to see that Aldi is starting to carry natural peanut butter too for $1.79 a jar. It is more than I'm used to paying, but for Hannah's lunches, I think it just might be worth it :)

I've been really working through the balance on keeping my grocery bill down and still feeding my family the most nutritional food that I can. In most cases, I try to keep the processed food down to a minimal and cook from scratch as much as possible. And I'm just trusting that the Lord will take care of the rest. I want to be a good steward of the money that He blesses us with, yet still feed my family as healthily as I can. I would love to hear from you...how do you keep your grocery bill down, and feed your family healthy?

For more things to love...head over to the diaper diaries