I love peanut butter. In the past, I would blend peanuts into a gooey paste myself, but then my blender broke. Making my own resulted in me becoming a peanut butter connoisseur. I enjoy going to the ridiculously expensive health food stores and inspecting the different brands. Companies market their peanut butters in all sorts of ways but I believe their success is all due to the work of the peanut. Peanuts are legumes, so unlike nuts, they grow underground. They are cheaply grown and have become a staple in the American diet. Peanut butter is a timeless product and sometimes we may take the peanut for granted. I’d like to share a few reasons as to why I love peanut butter because we must appreciate the gifts we are given in life:

1. It’s perfect for pre-workout.

Spread a tablespoon on a banana and you have a perfect snack before every type of workout. Lifting? Running? Pilates? Get into the mindset of exercising by fueling with peanut butter.

2. It bakes into anything.

One cup of peanut butter mixed with one cup of brown sugar, with a dash of vanilla extract, bakes in ten minutes to become crumbly, yummy cookies.

3. It pairs well with everything.

Spread the love on toast, crepes, waffles, pancakes and your meal tastes one hundred times better. Have you ever mixed peanut butter with cereal? You never know, it could be your next favorite snack. Peanut butter pizza anyone?

4. It's healthy.

Depending on the brand you decide to buy, peanut butter can be healthy. I prefer the natural brands. When you read the ingredients label, you should only see “peanuts and salt”. I never buy the brands that have hydrogenated vegetable oil or sugar. I don’t see why companies feel the urge to add sugar and ruin it.

5. Dogs love it.

Have you ever given a dog peanut butter and then watched it lick and smack their lips for an hour? That alone will convince you that peanuts make magic happen.

6. You can use it in savory and sweet dishes.

Have you tried a chicken peanut stew? Or peanut sauce? Its great for dunking Vietnamese summer rolls. Peanut butter pairs well with curry and anyone who knows how to cook spicy peanut noodles is welcome to join me for dinner.

7. The glass jars are reusable.

I am currently drinking water out of a jar that I originally bought holding thirty servings of peanut butter. The best part of buying a huge jar of peanut butter is taking a long spoon to scoop out the remnants. When the spoon has done its job, I then soak the jar. The paper with the logo peels off easily and the jar can then be washed, dried, and used for drinks!

8. Chunky or smooth? It determines the type of person we are.

Personally I prefer smooth peanut butter. Apparently Zac Efron likes chunky peanut butter. Sorry Zac but we would have never worked out anyways, it’s not you, it’s me.

9. It tastes delish.