Trade-Up Tuesday: PB&J Giveaway
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday, everyone’s favorite day here at A Better Bag of Groceries. Every Tuesday, I blog about a Trade Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal and I give away something for free. Today is a special Back To School edition – everything you need for a Brown Bag Lunch, even the P, B & J!
Before I worked for NuVal, I used to buy Reduced Fat Peanut Butter. That is actually the very first thing I learned about NuVal. I came in for my interview two years ago, sat down with the CEO, and we walked through a bunch of slides together so that I could get the gist of things. It was that day that I learned that regular peanut butter was more nutritious than reduced fat peanut butter. Why? Because the reduced fat peanut butter has more sodium, more carbs, more added sugar and less fiber than the regular brand. Wow! I had no idea. I just saw the reduced fat on the label and assumed it was better. But if I had NuVal scores on my grocery store shelves, I would know that:
Jif Peanut Butter scores a 20
Reduced Fat Jif Peanut Butter scores a 7
Since then, I’ve learned even more about peanut butter, and now I buy the best peanut butter we’ve scored: Teddie All Natural Unsalted Peanut Butter with a score of 49. My 7-year-old-son loves it.
Today’s giveaway is in honor of my 7-year-old son. He loves, loves, loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But, alas, his summer daycare/summer camp was peanut free. So, all summer long, he had to eat other kinds of sandwiches. Today, he is doing his Happy Dance now that we are headed back to school this week and he is allowed to bring peanut butter and jelly for lunch.
For this giveaway, I selected a very high-scoring bread:
Arnold Double Fiber: NuVal score of 40. It’s rich and hearty. It will get your grade-schooler through the afternoon.
Sadly, there really is no high-scoring jelly.
Smucker’s Strawberry Preserves score a 1.
To Enter:
Just leave a comment below telling me a Trade Up you’ve made since leaning about NuVal. If you haven’t made one yet, take a little tour around my blog and you’re sure to find something you will want to try out once you learn the Nuval score. I’ll select one winner at random at 9 am Wednesday Eastern Time. I’ll be choosing the winner and posting a little later than usual as it is my son’s first day of school tomorrow. Good Luck!
More Tips for Healthy Lunch-Packing
For more tips on packing healthy lunches for your kids (or for yourself) be sure to check out Annette Maggi’s blog, Nutrition Outlook today. Annette is our senior dietitian at NuVal and she is mom to Jack, a hungry basketball player. She has some great tips in today’s post, Send Lunch Packing.
Posted by: Melissa 63 comments
Posted in: peanut butter
Tags: back-to-school, peanut butter
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 8:52 am
I’ve traded up my cereals to the healthier (and more NuVal numbers!) Kashi products.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 8:53 am
One trade up was trying not to buy canned veggies – I opt for frozen instead if there’s not fresh available.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Traded up to shredded wheat from frosted flakes
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:09 am
I would love to try the peanut butter. I am new to the Nuval way of life. (I came across your website about a week ago.) My favorite way of eating peanut butter? With oatmeal of course. 1-2 TBSP of peanut butter and a package of diet hot chocolate. Instant chocolate peanut butter oatmeal. Try it… it is to die for.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Definitely traded up in the bread dept, really amazing the variations!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:18 am
I trade up regular yogurt to Greek yogurt.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:22 am
The Teddy Peanut Butter is not a trade up for our family. We LOVE our Teddy Unsalted smooth or crunchy. Aren’t we lucky it is from New England too! A trade up for our family is in the area of grains. I had never tried quinoa before reading you blog recipes. Delish!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Definitely I am in need of a pb tradeup, thanks for the info, will seek out Teddie!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:24 am
I’ve traded up from regular sweetened yogurt to plain Greek yogurt.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Wow, great info! I would like to trade up pb after reading that, I had no idea the differences that existed–we need Nuval in our store!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:30 am
I have traded up regular and lowfat yogurt with greek yogurt.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Traded up from full fat yogurt to nonfat greek, it’s delish and still creamy
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:40 am
I started buying Krema brand peanut butter from Meijer because it has the highest Nuval score of all the peanut butters they sell. And it is delicious!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Definitely traded up with the Teddie as you talked about in the entry, it’s even tastier than other low scoring pb’s, so it’s the best of both worlds!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 9:59 am
I’ve become a huge fan of Greek Yogurt and said bye bye to high-calorie junk!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:03 am
I have traded up to eating greek plain yogurt…sooo good!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Traded up to greek yogurt with fresh fruit from regular fruit flavored yogurt
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:07 am
we definitely traded up from reduced fat peanut butter when I started reading your blog, up to shredded wheat from cheerios
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:07 am
I traded to eating plain greek yogurt and adding frozen berries for flavor instead of buying flavored yogurt.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:09 am
I’ve made the switch to eating all natural peanut butter and I am never turning back!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Yogurt and cereal. Now I’ll keep an eye out for better peanut butter and bread!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I recently traded up a higher fiber bread from my normal plain white…tastes better and I love the health benefits
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:20 am
I began buying the “no salt added” canned vegetables! I’ve tried to find Teddie PB locally, but to no avail
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:34 am
I now buy greek yogurt instead of my usual light yogurt. Not only does it help me get in some protein, but it tastes so much better as well.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I was surprised that I had already “traded up” a lot of things without trying, but I’ve traded up big time on bread products.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I’ve traded up to peanut butter made with just one or two ingredients: peanuts and salt.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 10:46 am
I’m loving my trade up to whole wheat pasta instead of white refined types!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:05 am
I have traded up from regular to greek yogurt. It is so great alone or in smoothies!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:14 am
I have also traded up to greek yogurt from regular. I like mine plain with fruit or cereal.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I traded up to Bob’s Red Mill Mueslix after reading about it here. I used to eat other cereals that were not necessarily bad to eat, but Mueslix is better for me and really tastes great.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:29 am
I’ve traded up tortilla chips. Now I only buy Garden of Eatin blue corn chips – and they’re delicious!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:50 am
I add avocado to sandwiches and salads.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I love that your son is danoing the happy dance now that Peanut butter is back in his life, he is so cute!! We also use the Teddy peanut butter or the Maple Grove Farmer peanut butter (they are both 100% peanuts and nothing else) but instead of the jelly which as you note scores so poorly on NUVAL, the Katz household uses 60% cocoa Ghirardelli chocolate chips and my kids have always LOVED that combination which I bet will bring up that NUVAL score!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:58 am
I’ve traded up to regular almonds instead of the smokehouse ones. I’ve also been eating more sweet potatoes and beans!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:58 am
During the winter months I’ve been traded up white rice to either brown or wild rice!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I wonder how Naturally More peanut butter scores!
I traded up to Kashi crackers versus regular ol’ saltines.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I concur with the peanut butter swap out! That’s my favorite one!
I rarely go to the grocery store since we belong to a full-diet, year-round CSA– but I was sooooo pleased to see that NuVal scores were in our Price Chopper store here! There has been literally no buzz about it locally (Lake Placid, NY) but I hope there is soon! What a great tool for folks who are trying to make a change!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I’ve traded up to Greek Yogurt instead of the regular suagry kind!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
I’ve also made the switch to plain Greek yogurt- the old, artificially-flavor kind makes me gag now! And of course, the plain Greek variety has many more health benefits.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I tried up my more breakfast. It used to be regular yogurt with cereal instead of milk and now I have nonfat plain greek yogurt and shredded wheat with fresh fruit! I also stopped drink coffee creamer and now just use a little soy.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I’ve made the same trade-up – from reduced fat peanut butter to all-natural pb – and it tastes much better! I’ve never tried Teddie PB though…
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I never knew how much better steel-cut oats were for you than instant oats! Thanks to NuVal, I’ve traded up!
Thanks for the giveaway!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I have traded up to natural nut butters. WOuld love to try that brand of PB.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Im a Greek yogurt fan all the way, and I started paying better attention to bread and PB in general. Im lucky that I have Hyvee’s full of NuVal cards!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I traded up my breakfast – I now eat non fat greek yogurt, ground flax seed, and fresh fruit, perferably berries.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
regular yogurt for greek, for sure!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Best trade has been the yogurt…plain Greek now for me!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Plain greek yogurt and I’m loving it!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I’ve traded up to Greek yogurt and old-fashioned oats (instead of the instant).
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I have definitely traded up my cereals!
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Traded up my Frosted Flakes for Shredded Wheat
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Traded up regular breads to whole wheat types.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I actually switched our peanut butter to Better ‘N Peanut Butter. I wonder what that scores. Either way, I love it, especially the chocolate:)
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
I have traded up to Teddie peanut butter
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I need to win!! I’m a first grade teacher who eats p.b and j almost every day! It’s my favorite food!! I used to buy JIF p.b but now I buy all natural brands. I also switched breads for healthier sandwiches. I would love to have a p.b and jelly sandwich made w/Teddie p.b.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I have traded up to Chobani plain greek yogurt
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I’ve traded up from regular pasta to the whole wheat variety and also started Greek yogurt.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
I’ve traded up by adding avocado to more of my meals and I’m LOVING it
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
i seem to be not the only one who traded up to Greek yogurt! so good and loads more filling.
on Sep 7th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
Greek yogurt over regular
on Sep 8th, 2010 at 7:20 am
I have traded up by using whole wheat bread instead of white wheat. Thanks for the giveaway! I love PB&Js!
on Sep 8th, 2010 at 11:27 am
I have traded up greek yogurt for regular yogurt.
on Sep 9th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Greek yogurt for regular yogurt, low/no salt added canned beans & veggies