Ideal Bite

When I’ve really got a cold coming on, there’s one clear way I know: I lose my appetite. Yes, that’s true for many peeps, but ordinarily I’m always, always ready to eat (good cheese is my first choice...except maybe cookies...or a grass-fed burger...). And the first sign of getting better? Jonsing for a gooey PB&J.

I was reminded of that this week when picking up a few jars of organic peanut butter at the store (the way I buy the stuff, I swear I’m putting someone’s kids through college).

During my pregnancy, especially that first trimester, it was one of the only foods I’d consume after a bout of nausea. Not a bad choice if you want something with nutritional heft, but free of pesticides in the nonorganic kind and other scary stuff (think last winter’s salmonella scare).

Later, when nursing, organic PB proved to be the ultimate convenience food - all that good protein and fat kept me going (I was constantly hungry, surprise) and no worries about anything tainting my milk supply.

And my excuse these days? I’ve found it’s pretty versatile if you lean toward vegetarian cooking. I add it to veggie stir-fries with soy sauce and stir it in whole grain pilafs. ‘Course sometimes the occasional spoonful - straight up - is just what the doc ordered...

-Mama Bite Editor Alison...off to make a sammy...

From Mama Bite