Do you love Nutter Butter Cookies? Check out the ingredients: TRANS-FATS and High Fructose Corn Syrup! FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, PEANUT BUTTER (PEANUTS, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, HYDROGENATED RAPSEED AND/OR COTTONSEED AND/OR SOYBEAN OILS, SALT), SOYBEAN OIL AND/OR PALM OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, GRAHAM FLOUR (WHOLE GRAN WHEAT FLOUR), PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL, SALT, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CORNSTARCH, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), VANILLIN - AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Imagine this...your brain conducts routine daily maintenance on your dopamine and serotonin receptors (both essential for mood and concentration). These receptors are composed of Omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. If you consume TRANS-FAT (hydrogenated oils) instead of healthy DHA, your brain molecules use this as a construction material instead. They problem is that trans-fats are shaped differently than DHA: they are straight while DHA is curved. Dopamine receptors becomes mis-shaped and don't work very well. Repeat this scenario meal after meal, day after day, year after year, and you could wind up with problems like ADHD, problems concentrating, anxiety and depression. What is more bothersome to me is when we give our children these so called "treats" because they are entitled to have them when they are young, but it is even more detrimental because children's brains are still developing.
The typical American diet is almost devoid of these essential omegas; they are called "essential fatty acids" because your body can't make them...you must consume them. In fact, over 60% of Americans are deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids, and about 20% have so little that test methods can't detect any in their blood. Omega-3 deficiencies are also linked to dyslexia, memory problems, weight gain, cancer, heart disease, acne, eczema, allergies, inflammatory diseases, arthritis, diabetes, and SO many other conditions. Your brain is more than 60% structural fat, so it is no wonder why if we don't serve our children this essential brain food, they will have a hard time succeeding in school. To read more on Serotonin and Dopamine, try this book: Secrets to Controlling Your Weight Cravings and Mood.
1/2 c. vanilla whey/egg white protein
3/4 c. peanut flour (or almond flour)
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/4 c. peanut butter (or almond)
1/4 c. Just Like Sugar (or erythritol)
1 tsp stevia glycerite
2 TBS water (to hold dough together)
FILLING:
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. cream cheese
1/4 c. Just Like Sugar
1/2 tsp stevia glycerite
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl, stir together the whey, peanut/almond flour, baking soda and salt. Cut in the peanut butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the butter lumps are smaller than peas. Stir in the water and sweetener to form a stiff dough. On parchment paper, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch in thickness. On a cookie sheet, place 1/4 inch balls 2 inches apart. Flatten balls into circles (I used a measuring cup). Bake for 10-12 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges are lightly browned. Cool in oven to crisp up. FILLING: Mix together and use to hold cookies together. Makes 12 servings.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Nutter Butter = 160 calories, 8g fat, 2g protein, 20 carbs, 1g fiber
"Healthified" Nutter Butter = 160 calories, 11g fat, 10.5g protein, 5 carbs, 2g fiber
