Peanut Butter Is The Glue That Holds My Life Together

I don't know about you, but I have yet to find something that makes me as happy as a spoonful of peanut butter. It's delicious, it's nutritious, and I'm pretty sure it's the glue that holds my life together. When my sister and I were little, we would go to grandma's house and ask if we could make a "cookie sandwich". She would look at us like we were crazy because she thought we wanted cookies on sandwich bread. What we really wanted was a huge glob of peanut butter on our bread topped with a little bit of jelly, then topped once more with another huge glob of peanut butter. Kind of like an Oreo but with peanut butter and jelly instead of chocolate sandwich cookies and cream. I'm pretty sure we ate her cupboards out of peanut butter every weekend making these cookie sandwiches because we definitely weren't stingy piling the pb onto our bread.

Ever since I developed an autoimmune disorder, my body no longer tolerates peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so I have to find a different way to get my pb fix in. I'd be happy as a clam eating pb cookies all day, but that's just not practical. So, a few times a week I whip up a Peanut Butter & Oat Smoothie.

Peanut butter is a good source of protein, healthy fats, and keeps you feeling fuller longer so you are less likely to overeat when you add a little into your diet. This smoothie is an awesome way to kick start the day. It's simple to toss together and you can take it on the go, so there's no excuse to not eat healthy on busy mornings.

While any peanut butter works in this recipe, I would recommend using an all-natural peanut butter to keep it healthier. The processed varieties often contain hydrogenated oils, which are trans fats (bad fats), to keep the pb from separating. Look for all-natural or organic to keep this smoothie as healthy as possible.

Yield: Serves 1 Author: Theresa M

Peanut Butter & Oats Smoothie

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
• 2 tbsp peanut butter

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Pour into glass. Serve immediately.

I always use vanilla flavored almond milk and vanilla flavored Greek yogurt for added sweetness, but if you prefer, plain is fine for both as well.

What's your favorite way to enjoy peanut butter?