Brown bag kid lunch = peanut butter and jelly sandwich. At least that’s the traditional formula parents have relied on for years. But with more schools banning peanut butter based on concerns over peanut allergies, parents may find themselves scrambling for alternatives.
The next best thing may, in fact, be another nut butter. While each nut butter has its own distinctive (and, most likely, unfamiliar) taste, a dash of jelly, a few slices of banana or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar may jazz things up enough to catch kids’ attention.
The biggest plus? “Spreads made from other nuts or seeds provide a nutritious alternative to peanut butter,” says Joyce Barnett, a registered clinical dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She recommends that parents give the following spreads a whirl:
- Almond butter This nut butter is high in protein and is a great source of potassium. Research has shown that almonds, which are tree nuts, can help reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as total cholesterol levels.
- Soy nut butter Made from soybeans, soy nut butter generally has as much fiber as its peanut counterpart. Soy nut butter is free of peanuts and tree nuts, but children with soy allergies should avoid it.
- Sunflower seed butter Another spread created for kids with peanut allergies, sunflower butter is free of peanuts and tree nuts. A two-tablespoon serving has more than one-third of a child’s daily magnesium and vitamin E requirements.
