It's Peanut Butta Jelly Time!

I just want to mention how fantastic a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can be. It is not only fast and inexpensive but healthy too. All natural, organic peanut butter, a swipe of your favorite jelly on whole wheat bread is delicious! You really can’t beat it. I enjoy PB & J's for breakfast or lunch on the regular. They are also my staple meal to pack with me when I know I'll be on the go.

BREAD: Choose a multi-grain variety. This will provide more fiber and less sugar. It is also much tastier than white bread. Try it lightly toasted for a little variety, or even a whole wheat english muffin, whole wheat pita or tortilla. Lately, I've been making them on ricecakes!

PEANUT BUTTER: Plain, all natural, organic peanut butter provides a good source of protein and healthy (mono-unsaturated) fats. Healthier alternatives include those that don't contain any sweetener (or a natural sweetener such as agave or molasses), and flaxseed enriched. Flaxseed gives the butter some added flavor while providing omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. These oils promote cardiovascular health and joint support. Plain, unsalted, unsweetened CHUNKY peanut butter is my favorite!

JELLY: Fruit preserves are the best choice here as they contain pieces of whole fruit and, therefore, more nutrients. Always look for those containing the least amount of sugar. For extra antioxidants, try preserves from berry sources. Berries are a VERY dirty bunch, so it's always best to buy organic when possible. Sugar-free varieties are NOT the better solution when it comes to jelly (along with other sugar-free products, for that matter). They contain harmful chemicals that will only leave your body hungry for more food because your meal will be lacking what the food was missing and confused because we aren't supposed to consume foreign chemicals. Long story short, opt for all natural, organic jelly when possible.

Just typing this with that lovely picture above has me tempted to make a half of a PB & J right now! In the meantime, I'm going to annoy my neighbors by rocking out to the banana performing the peanut butta jelly song.