WARNING THIS IS NOT AN ANONYMOUS GROUP…join at your own risk.
You might be an addict if… you feel like crying when the jar is empty.
You might be an addict if … anyone has ever had to pry the jar away from you to save you from exploding.
You might be an addict if … you find ways to incorporate it in to everything you eat!
It has come to my attention that there is a serious crisis happening among runners…a peanut butter addiction you may call it.
We crave it, lust after it, dream about it and find ways to put it just about anything we eat….in a smoothie, on oats, on bread, straight from the jar.
Yes, let’s be honest straight from the jar has become the go to method for ensuring that you truly get the full uninterrupted creamy flavor.
Don’t come around here with that low-fat stuff and now that I’ve had the good stuff, don’t try to fool me with the big plastic jar of highly processed nuts.
I want a jar with one ingredient: nuts.
It all starts so innocently. A lunchbox loaded lovingly by mom with a PB&J. A poor college student finding the jumbo size jars at Sam’s Club. A runner needing quick fuel on the way out the door.
Suddenly it wasn’t just 1 spoonful a day, it was a spoonful repeatedly all day long! Nothing wrong with this great food, but in excess it might have explained the stalled weight loss!
Checkout the other healthy foods we over eat >>
Why Runners Crave it?
Like it or not all those miles mean we have to pay more attention to getting the appropriate nutrients in our meals. It’s not just about recovery, it’s about having a body fueled for running without bonking.
Hey if it was good enough for all these Olympic athletes, then I think we’re in good company with our cravings! 
Fat Needed:For a long time we feared fat and the result as we put in more miles was our body trying to find ways to tell us it needs fat! When we finally relented with something like peanut butter, our cravings kicked in to ensure we kept getting more fat to fuel those long runs and care for our joints.
Magnesium Needed: I’ve talked a lot about the importance of magnesium for muscles and fat loss, so I won’t dive in here other than to say, yup almond butter is a great source and could be part of your craving.
Stress: Turns out peanut butter creates a plant sterol called Beta-sitosterol, which can actually help to lower cortisol! Cortisol isn’t just created by a hectic schedule, it’s also created from hard workouts and our body wants to bring it back down to keep your circadian rhythms, energy and mood in balance.
B Vitamins Needed: Feeling a little lethargic, could be a need for more B vitamins, which are also used up more abundantly by runners pounding the pavement. Since nuts are high in B vitamins they’re a go to when we have that afternoon slump or low blood sugar.
Missing Calories: Trying to lose weight while running? You’re probably cutting calories and as a result creating a deficit repeatedly that your body wants to correct. One trick that seems to help is not skipping meals early in the day, which leads to that ravenous hunger at night and an easier justification to eat 2…3…4 servings of nuts instead of 1.
Habit: Not only do we look to foods for comfort as our training increases, but if we’ve created a ritual of nut butter before a run then suddenly we want it whether we’re hungry or not.
It’s Perfection: Let’s be honest, nut butters are the perfect foods. We can take them with us to the start line on a tortilla, slather it on a banana post workout, put it in a muffin, eat it from the spoon, add flavors or go basic and it always tastes wonderful.
ADDICTS UNITE!!
What is your best nut butter recipe?
What is your favorite brand, flavor…homemade?
Where is it cheapest?
Don’t worry friends we’ll get through this delicious obsession together!
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Mica
Mmm, I am totally a PB addict. I am too poor for the high-brow kinds, so I generally just buy organic crunchy PB at the local box store. I like it straight from the jar, but I just made a pretty good PB-oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie…
KYLE
I would love your recipe for the cookies. Those are my favorite
[email protected]
sarah
total addict! i really have trouble going a day without it :) i don't really crave all the variety though – – i luuuuv my whole foods store brand smooth and crunchy (ingredients for both: just peanuts 'n' salt!).fortunately i don't mind my addiction so much — as long as i get my daily dose, i'm cool for the rest of the day. YUMMMMMMM.
ttfn300
hi, my name is shannon, and i'm a pb addict :) my fav pb is prob 365 brand, almond butter tj's brand. LOVED the chunks in barney butter, and i haven't tried any naturally nutty…
jessica
make these cookies. http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/peanut-butter-cookies-recipe.htmlright now.get to it.
Tara
I am an ADDICT!!!! I eat at spoonful every morning and most likely every night as well! I really enjoy the organic creamy kinda from Trader Joe's..However, if I am at Target I but the Skippy Natural kind….soooooo goood! I don't have nay fav recipes since I basically like it on anything and everything :D
Kim
You so crack me up!!
Tammy
Yes, I'm an addict. I had to stage my own intervention and ban PB from my house… it's just that bad.
Denise
I seriously told myself I'm not allowed to buy it anymore. I finished a jar in like 3 days the other day. It talks to me while it's in the house,…"eat me." I was eating Crazy Richards but it doesn't have salt and I need a little salt. TJ's has some really good prices on their natural PB.
LG
peanut butter makes ANYTHING taste better — peanut butter and cream cheese and sour cream — put them on anything and it just kicks up the meal a notch (just don't eat them together)
Cindy
i just happen to be eating a bowl of pb granola right now. it's so good! i'm definitely in the addicted group.
RunningLaur
me too. My original love was reduced fat Jif crunchy which is impossible to find in Phoenix. Apparently there's a super target in Glendale with some… Now I'm on a 365 organic crunchy almond butter kick. Pretty cheap and great taste!
D10
I am addicted to PB. I eat it at some point everyday. I don't discriminate, I like all forms from organic to you normal skippy.
Meg
I"m definitely in this club!!
Jogger
My name is Elisabeth, and I'm addicted to peanut butter. Almond butter too. Non-peanut butter lovers really can't understand my madness.I can generally be found eating it straight out of the jar, and I generally only buy natural organic butters. Since I started eating the natural peanut butter, I can't stomach the processed version…it's so…so…processed.I try not to make these unless I'm feeling really strong because I will literally eat the entire batch, but I love making peanut butter balls.-1 jar peanut butter-2 cups of your favorite high fiber cereal, twirled in the blender a few times.-1/2 cup granola, crushed almonds, etc…I get creative sometimes…-Add water as needed to keep the "dough" moist enough to manipulateSmash it all together, and make it into little balls. You can then roll them in the crushed cereal, or leave them as is. Just store them in the fridge, and they actually get better as they set and the flavors mesh.I also have added a scoop of chocolate protein powder into the mix, and that is great if you need a little peanut butter/chocolate fix.Beware…
Jogger
p.s…that should've said "1 cup" not "2 cups" of cereal. duh.
Colleen
Addict here! I love Barney Butter, Maranatha no stir almond, and pretty much every peanut butter I've come in contact with. I like to scoop a bunch on a spoon, top it with semi-sweet chocolate chips and chomp away. Why is that stuff so freakin good?
Jon (was) in Michiga
Peanut butter is what you eat when the jars of Nutella are empty (and you have stopped crying).
Ali
I love the good old fashioned with chemicals and hydrogenated everything straight from the jar on my finger … delicious.I only buy the natural type now, just peanuts. Which has stopped the over indulging and eating it out of the jar.It's delicious on a hot toasted cinnamon raisin bagel.
Doug
If you love peanit butter, you need a Braum's panut butter and chocolate fudge sundae. Braum's is located in area directly south of the KC area, so if you head that way, make time to stop off and grab one….
Shirley
When I was growing up, my mom bought "Laura Scudders"(spelling?) natural peanut butter…and I remember for a snack I would dip a spoon into the jar and eat the PB off the spoon. (I don't remember eating PB sandwiches, but I sometimes make them now…usually combining the PB with one of those healthy low-fat "butter" spreads.) Now my family and I enjoy "Adams" PB (which used to be a local company in WA state, but it got bought by the Smuckers company several years ago).Favorite recipe: PB cookies: 1 cup PB (any kind will work), 1 cup sugar, 1 egg. Mix together, drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet, and do the fork press thing on top if desired. Bake at 350 for 7-9 minutes or until set and lightly browned. YUM! I haven't made these for a long time, because when I do, I can't stop eating them!!!
Nobel4Lit
Fortunately, I only like peanut butter with bread/tortilla (or is that unfortunate?), so it's not like I can feasibly eat it out of the jar (anymore). I really haven't had much of this stuff since the big recall, not because of fear but because the jar at my house is stale, and it got expensive to get at stores and unavailable in my company's cafeteria.
Christine
I loveeee me some Jif. I also like the PB powder from Bell Plantation to put in smoothies. They smush all the fat out of it..its delic!
tfh
Sounds like you're…you're enabling us!I also am addicted to sunflower seed butter. Mmm. But nothing beats pb. PB cups. Chocolate-oatmeal-pb no-bake cookies. Bananas smeared with gobs of peanut butter…mmm…
Ms. V.
Two words: and jelly.
Abby
Hilarious…Whole Foods brand peanut butter is actually pretty cheap (less than Trader Joe's, even). We have to keep a couple different jars in the house because I'm a bit of a purist – no salt or sugar, while Brent likes the salted variety and every so often asks me to pick up a jar of Skippy.
Melissa
Love the Peanut Ball Recipe from Jogger.I love all kinds of "butters too" Almond, Cashew … and of course Peanut Butter. I am not addicted as I used to be, I can control it now. I was pretty bad a few years back, a jar in a few days.
Alisa
I too am an addict.We usually buy the all natural from Costco, we're not brand snobs.My two favorite things:1) mix it with ice cream2) on fresh bread (my hubs bakes fresh bread once a week)
BOBBI McCORMICK
I eat it every morning for breakfast but I dont think I am addicted;) lol
renae
I eat PB on a whole wheat english muffin for b-fast every single day! My kids tease me about it all the time, "Oh what if we run out!" which, I inform them, will never happen because I am always sure to be with at least 1 spare jar! Love the Smart Balance brand.The guilty pleasure is the 'All Natural Peanut Butter & Co Dark Chocolate Dreams'…yummm! Fantastic on cinnamon raisin bread!
Lisa D.
I love PB too! The only thing that cured my addiction was moving in with someone who was allergic, so since then I've tried almond, soynut, sunflowerseed and my most favorite cashew nut butter!
Diana
haha – so true! looks like great minds think alike today at breakky! diana
N.D.
Oh gosh, looking at these pictures is making it so much worse. To see that jar of butter toffee (which by the end of the 6 flavors that I bought became my favorite), – I can't look at that. My stomach is longing for it.So that is my favorite, and my favorite recipe is for pb fudge – but you have to use the skippy crap for that, so I'd rather just eat NN out of the jar instead. Great post!! You're hilarious.
Jess
Oh god, sign me up. I'm still on the college-kid version buying Jif in the biggest jar I can find. One day I will grow up and try the real stuff
Katerina
You may be an addict if… you just ate some 10 minutes ago? Well of course. Sadly I still haven't tried naturally nutty yet, I am too cheap too.
N.D.
after I read this, BTW, I went to the jar again. What the hell!!
sweetandfit
haha…i am totally a PB addict! I am obsessed with PB & Co, the Mighty Maple of CInnamon Raisin Swirl flavors – for me its cheapest at Giant, but still expensive!
Rookie on the Run
I love all natural peanut butter on a toasted whole wheat bagel. Simple, satisfying, and yummy!
Sara
I have to have a snack of peanut butter and apples almost every day!! Love it! My favorite brand is peanut butter and company, smooth operator. That company also makes a cinnamon raisin flavor which is amazing. You reminded me of a great recipe I have for a peanut butter dessert. I'll have to find it and post it soon on my blog. Guess that means I'll have to make it, too, so I can get some pics…it will make the husband happy!
Karen
I am an addict. I partially blame you :) That D*&% butter toffee peanut butter. You HAD to tell us about it… I ordered one jat to start. I almost cried when it was gone. My last order – well, why not just order a dozen, right? OH MY GOODNESS it is SOOOO good!
Run Mommy
i LOVE peanut butter and have loved it my whole life (thanks mom). I come from a family of addicts. Not that all natural,organic stuff – I mean the hard core – KRAFT or SKIPPY. Love it. :)
CPB
PB is the best creation – EVER! One of my favorite things to do is freeze a banana, spread a layer of PB over the banana then freeze again. Dip in dark chocolate and freeze again and you have a very tasty dessert that isn't terrible for you. mmmm…..Now, I must find PB.Have you tried Peanut Butter & Co? They have a variety of amazing flavors like white chocoalte and cinnamon PB.
Andrea (Off Her Cork
Vanilla almond is my favorite! God I love that stuff, it's like eating icing!
HangryPants
I love the Teddie's Natural Unsalted PB. I think Trader Joe's has pretty cheap nut butters.
the gazelle
I am a total addict. I have a jar in my desk drawer at work & another at home. I don't have a favorite – I'll eat any peanut butter, or almond butter, or cashew butter. I think it might be time for my morning snack now – banana & PB, of course.
Elina
Oh yeah, I'm a nut butter addict. Honestly I blame the blog world (way to go, blaming others for your addictions). I used to kinda link pb but now I can't get enough of nut butters. Yes, the hubs prayed the Barney Butter jar out of my hands just 2 days ago. I had more for breakfast yesterday and another spoonful at night. Ugh. It doesn't help that all of us bloggers love it so it's everywhere! Oh well – it's delicious at least. Could be worse ;)My crack of choice is currently Barney Butter, although I'm about to polish of my second jar and I'm not sure if I can buy any again for a little while. I may have to go through the other 5 jars of pb I have in the house first. Hopefully I'll stay away from eating it straight from the jar.TJ's and WF have very cheap natural pbs (under $2/jar). That's a good price if you ask me. It's no Barney Butter though… :(
Bert
Definitely a peanut butter nut. As a child in South Africa I used to mix it – the brand of choice then was Black Cat – with old-fashioned Lyle's Golden Syrup, nothing better on freshly baked bread from Bolt's Bakery. Nowadays I am experimenting with all kinds of natural peanut butter – in a jar. Not from that big tub think in Whole Foods. Why? Because I saw an unsupervised little girl dropping something in there a while ago… The same little girl took a bite from a wholewheat fig bar, made a nasty face and put it back with the other unsold fig bars.
sRod
I can't start a long run without a heaping serving of PB! That stuff is a miracle: it gave me enough energy to run 16 miles yesterday without any other food. Incredible.
el
Yah… sign me up. I've been a life-long junkie. I should never be permitted near an Indian sweets shop, though I prefer natural peanut butter ground fresh. My favorite peanut butter ritual is absolutely disgusting, I glub it on top of my vanilla frozen yogurt. Sadly my former "roomie" (ex) and I started living on peanut butter and yogurt, I suspect he hasn't kicked it. Back in the old days of undergrad, i.e. the time before gourmet went main stream, I lived on those giant tubs of halavah and spinach salad.
sarah
Today I finished a tub of Publics all natural crunchy peanut butter. It was amazing, I eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am an addict. Now heading out for a long run
Rae Rae
ok so i am sitting here eating a jar of Kroger brand CREAMY pb omg it is like heaven,I try to limit it but its bad im to where i eat a jar a day! lol i love pb but i am indeed an addict of peanut butter.
Anonymous
please i love peanut butter sooo much i am eating now i make this great dessert with bananas,peanut butter, and oatmeal and mix it all together then spread it into a casserole dish and freeze it and cut into bars delicious
Anonymous
CANNOT STOP EATING THE STUFF!!!!
Anonymous
Spreading peanut butter on marshmallows for a sweet snack. Does that qualify me as an addict?
Amy B @ Second City
I am an addict and it's all Trader Joe's fault! AAAHHH!
Anonymous
peanut butter cheese sandwiches…YUM!
Anonymous
OK I really have a problem…I can not stop eating it, thinking about it, wish I could have it always and yes, I freak out when I am close to getting low…I need help.
Jessica
This page is awesome! I would absolutely *LOVE* to hear from Peanut Butter "addicts" in Southern California. I'm working on a new food docu-series on a major cable network and we're interested in hearing from who have unusual food obsessions. If anyone wants to hear more, please get in touch with Jessica at [email protected] ASAP!
Jessica
I'd love to chat with PB lovers who live in the greater Los Angeles area! I'm casting a new food docu-series and we're looking to chat with people who have an "obsession" with Peanut Butter. If anyone is interested in hearing more, please get in touch with Jessica at KiernanCasting(at)gmail(dot)com ASAP!
Mark
TLC is looking for the people with Certain Food Addictions and Unusual Eating Issues. This program is an engaging and ultimately transformational Docu-Series looking to help Americans in need of a diet intervention. Each week, the series will follow a different person with an extremely restricted diet, often to the point of avoiding entire food groups. A team of qualified experts will use a number of techniques to help the person overcome their nutritional and psychological problems and develop a healthier diet. – Are you considered an extremely picky or fussy eater? – Do you have a limited diet of a few specific food items that you will not stray from? – Are you addicted to one food and one food only? – Do your friends or family members think your “picky eating” is getting out of control? – Are you terrified of eating certain foods and the thought brings you out in a sweat? If you or someone you know needs help with their food issue, then we want to hear from you. We’d like to hear from people who want help to overcome their problem. This is not a show for people who “just don’t like brussel sprouts” or choose not to eat meat for ethical reasons. This is a series for adults who genuinely would like help to deal with the psychological root causes of why they cannot eat or try new foods. If you are an adult with extreme eating habits and would like to know more about our show please respond to [email protected] with the following: -First and Last Name -Age -City, State -Phone Number and email -Photo and/or link to your Facebook or Myspace -A brief paragraph about what makes your eating habits extreme and why you want help. The more you tell us, the better. If you know someone with an extreme eating habit and you would like them to get help, you may also nominate them.
Anonymous
i am a runner.. and an addict. I recently started making PB myself. Once you start and figure out how to do it, you will NEVER go back to store bought..I take Trader Joe's peanuts (sometimes plain, sometimes honey roasted) and put in food processor with some peanut or canola oil and salt. Let it spin for about four minutes. The nuts will liquefy. When done you need to cool it to get it to set. Usually a few hours in the fridge will do the trick. Then, enjoy. It will be the best you have ever had.
sarah
I have been an addict since age 2. My mom always said I had pb in my veins instead of blood. Now my kids hide jars from me and my husband hates kissing my pb breath. O how I love its yummy creamyness.
Anonymous
Great to find this site..since I thought I was the only peanut butter addict in the world. I crave peanut butter all day..love it on bananas, toast or straight out of the jar!
I love PB!
I too am a runner and I am OBSESSED with PB. So I fell in love with those machines where you Just grind up peanuts and it comes out all warm and yummy and I was adding flaxseeds to give it some crunchiness and then I discovered a machine at whole foods that grinds up peanuts and chocolate chips at the same time, hence fresh ground chocolate peanut butter, hence an orgasm in my mouth best thing I have ever tasted, especially if you put it in the fridge for a while and let it harden. Anyways, best PB ever
PBJoe
I am truly addicted. 8 months out of gastric sleeve surgery, 105lbs later, this is still my weakness. It surely doesn't help with a wife nicknamed "coupon queen"….she manages to bring home sometimes 6 jars at a time because "heck of a deal". Skippy, Jif, Kroger, Aldi, Save a lot's house brand, Peter Pan, on and on. A real treat is HONEY PB….OMGGGG!
Just woke up for a midnite drink of koolaid, just to finish the last jar. I need HELP!!
My dietitionist turned me on to some powder, very healthy alternative. Google TRU Nut. Mix with water, like 1/3 of calories and fat. Not toooo bad………..
Rich
Hi Amanda, I must admit – my eyes grew when I saw this post today, haha. I have only recently found my love again of peanut butter. I loved it as a kid, not so much over the past 20 years. I personally like the smooth option from my local Lidl shop. It’s not very expensive and it tastes lovely by itself or spread onto toast. Can’t get enough of it to be honest!
Emily
I’ll be part of this!!!! Hehe. I didn’t know all of the reasons we crave nut butter, and now I know I can totally justify my love for nut butter. My very favorite is probably cashew or peanut butter. :) I love Naturally Nutty, Nut Butter Nation, and Bliss Nut Butters!
Kay
I finish a 400g jar in two days…😣 i wanna stop but I just cannot. I can go days without eating it but once I do, I don’t stop