Updated August 01, 2014.

Peanut butter is delicious, but a standard serving has nearly 200 calories and 16g fat. And that serving is just 2 tablespoons! Plus, PB is typically teamed up with carby bread or calorie-packed chocolate. The good news? You can enjoy peanut butter without putting a major calorie dent in your day... You just need a little help from Hungry Girl!

 

LOWER-FAT PEANUT BUTTER OPTIONS

Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter - While the calorie count is about the same as regular PB, the reduced-fat version has (as you might guess) a couple of grams less fat per serving.

 If you're looking for something extremely close to the original, this is your best bet. Plus, it's a supermarket staple. Just grab a measuring spoon, and watch those portions.

Better'n Peanut Butter/Peanut Wonder - With about half of the calories of regular peanut butter and a small fraction of the fat (2g per 2-tbsp. serving), this is a great way to enjoy creamy, spreadable peanut butter. It's a little sweet, so it's best with fruit or in dessert recipes. Find it in select grocery stores and retailers, like Trader Joe's and Target.

Powdered Peanut Butter - Major find here! Powdered peanut butter is made of defatted peanuts. How cool is that? The nutritional stats are wildly impressive -- a 2-tbsp. serving has about 50 calories and 1.5g fat. Add water and stir for a perfect peanut butter swap. You can also add the powder directly to smoothies, shakes, oatmeal, and more. Look for this stuff at health-food stores or order some online.

Click here for more info about powdered peanut butter! 

 

FRUITY PAIRINGS

One of the best ways to turn a serving of peanut butter into a satisfying snack? Pair it with high-fiber fruit...

Apple - Spread apple slices with peanut butter, or stir chopped apple with softened PB and serve over yogurt. So quick and easy!

Banana - Classic combo here. Slice a banana into coins, and top with a bit of peanut butter. Freeze for about an hour, and you'll have a fun treat to enjoy.

Strawberries - Cut off the top the berries, and scoop out some of the insides. Put a small amount of peanut butter inside, and you've got a PB&J inspired snack!

Check out this recipe for PB-rific Stuffed Strawberries, featuring a creamy vanilla-PB filling! 

 

PB-FLAVORED PRODUCT FINDS

Low-Fat Peanut Butter Cereal - Cereal that tastes like peanut butter is incredible, in your breakfast bowl and elsewhere. Look for a PB-infused cereal with 120 calories or less and no more than 3g fat per 1-cup serving. Then pair it with fat-free milk (or a low-calorie milk swap) for a morning mini meal or a snack. Speaking of snacks, try sprinkling a handful of PB cereal over fat-free yogurt (Greek or regular) for a yummy treat, like this PB&J Yogurt Parfait.

PB Snack Bars - A cereal bar or granola bar studded with peanut butter chips or topped with a PB drizzle make a great mini fix. Many have around 100 calories, and they're easy to stash in your purse or desk drawer. Also look for peanut butter protein bars -- bonus points if they have fiber. Just don't confuse a meal-replacement bar with a simple snack -- always check the stats.

Vitalicious Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip VitaTops - A VitaTop is one of my favorite 100-calorie desserts. Amazing taste and texture, all-natural, packed with vitamins, low in fat, and high in fiber... I know, that sounds like a made-up snack, but it's real! And this peanut-butter-chip-studded version is worth ordering online. You can store them in your freezer for a couple of months.

 

PB RECIPES

Nutty-Good PB Brownies - Yummy chocolate brownies with a peanut butter swirl, and only 160 calories per piece. Plus, this recipe has just four ingredients and couldn't be easier to whip up. I add light soymilk or fat-free milk to creamy reduced-fat peanut butter in order to create the swirl. It makes a great peanut butter sauce too!

Rais' the Roof PB&J Quesadilla - Here's a unique recipe that kids and adults will love. Feed a peanut butter craving with this PB&J quesadilla. Only five ingredients, and it's loaded with fiber.

Creamy PB Shake - The average peanut butter milkshake has over 750 calories and more than 40g fat. This Hungry Girl recipe has a slim 216 calories and just 5.5g fat! It calls for two of my favorite PB ingredients -- powdered peanut butter and low-fat peanut butter cereal. Super decadent yet completely guilt-free.

For more delicious peanut butter recipes, check out this "Best of..." roundup!

 

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