Anyone looking for an alternative to peanut butter will want to try the new Sunbutter, which is made from sunflower seeds. This product reivew of Sunbutter covers the good and bad points of this new product. If someone in your family has peanut or tree nut allergy, you will want to read this review of Sunbutter.
Sunflower vs. Peanut
Sunbutter is made from sunflower seeds, not peanuts. According to the labeling on the Sunbutter container, the sunflower spread was made in a facility that does not process any peanuts or tree nuts. This is good news for anyone with a peanut or tree nut allergy.
Sunflowers are seeds, and are not part of the legume family like peanuts and soybeans.
However, soybean products are processed in the same equipment. Anyone with a known soybean allergy should avoid Sunbutter.
Taste
If you like sunflower seeds, you will love Sunbutter. It is a mild-tasting, creamy spread that looks like peanut butter, and even has the same texture.
The sunbutter is tasty on bread, toast, graham crackers, or on raw celery.
Flavors
I tried the Honey Crunch Sunbutter flavor. This flavor contains whole sunflower seeds mixed in with the spread, giving the Sunbutter a pleasing crunch.
My toddler also enjoyed the sunflower spread on wheat bread.
Sunbutter also comes in Creamy, Natural, Natural Crunch, and Organic flavors.
Nutritionally
When you first glance at the Nutrition Facts label, you will see that one serving is 200 calories. This seems quite high for a spread, until you realize that the serving size is two tablespoons. I rarely use two tablespoons at a time. The portion I use is more like a teaspoon than two tablespoons.
The sunflower product also contains 16 grams of fat per serving. This is one gram less than some peanut butter. It also contains one gram less of saturated fat.
Similar to peanut butter, this grocery store product has no cholesterol.
The sunflower product is more nutritious than peanut butter because it is lower in sodium and in sugar. It also contains one more gram of protein per serving than peanut butter.
Sunflowers also have added vitamins in the form of Vitamin E, Magnesium Cooper, Niacin, and Zinc, all of which do not appear on the label in your standard peanut butter.
For women, and for growing children, also note that this product made with sunflower seeds contains more iron than peanut butter.
Availability
This product may not be easy to find at your local grocery store. I did find it at Big Y, but not at any other grocery store in the area.
Price
The biggest drawback to this grocery store product is the price. It can cost up to twice as much as store brand peanut butter. Purchase this product when it’s on sale.
The nutritional aspects make Sunbutter a better alternative to peanut butter, especially in allergy-ridden families.
