Salad and Fish: Challenge Accepted

So my mom goes out with her friends, and leaves me to cook dinner for myself and my brother. She tells me to cook fish, and arugula salad, so I decide to combine the two. Here's what I came up with...

Peanut butter, Soy-nut butter, Nutella: All About Spreads

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, craving a nutty, chocolatey snack? Well here's the scoop on some of the best spreads to satisfy those late night craves.

Nutella® (Chocolate Hazelnut Spread)

Chocolate hazelnut spread is my favorite nut based spread because it has that delicious chocolate flavor that everyone craves every once and a while. However, Nutella® has less protein than most brands of peanut butter and soy-nut butter, and has more calories as well. Luckily, Nutella® has roughly 1/10 of the amount of sodium in peanut butter. 

Some great ways to enjoy Nutella® are on fresh fruit, on wholewheat toast, or simply by itself. In New York, you can find crepe stands in street fairs during the summer months, who will be happy to whip together Nutella® crepes for you to enjoy. 

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is also very delicious. Many people love Reese's Pieces when they crave peanut butter, but there are healthier ways to enjoy it. Peanut butter is great on Ants-On-A-Log or in PB&J (Check out this cool (but somewhat controversial) video about how to make PB&J). Apples and bananas also go well with peanut butter. I also love making a peanut sauce or marinade for tofu, which is made from peanut butter, sesame seeds, soy sauce and a bit of vinegar. 

If you are looking for a snack that will give you a lot of protein, I would recommend peanut butter over Nutella®, even though it has more sodium. Jif® is my favorite brand of peanut butter because in my opinion it tastes the best, and it has fewer calories than Peter Pan® and less sodium than Skippy®. 

Soy-nut Butter

Soy-nut Butter is a peanut free alternative to peanut butter. It tastes similar to peanut butter, however, people who have tried both peanut butter and soy nut butter tend to prefer peanut butter. I would recommend eating the same way one would eat peanut butter. I.M. Healthy®, a popular soy-nut butter brand, has roughly the same amount of calories and sodium as most peanut butter brands, but it has less fat. 

No matter which spread you prefer, these nutty condiments are perfect for someone who has a sweet-tooth every once in a while.