My 3 Year Old Is Addicted to Skippy Peanut Butter!

L.,
I think it would be great if you could change peanut butters to Healthy Balance!
http://www.smartbalance.com/PeanutButterFamily.aspx
It is as creamy as skippy but without the sugar, sugar causes free radicals, makes the body more acid, and lowers the immune system. I think it would be a great choice!!
:o)

I think its ok. Especially if you teach her to eat veggies with it. Celery and carrots dipped in peanut butter is good too. So is vanilla ice cream. Kids go through phases were they'll only eat certain things. My son was hotdogs. My niece was hotdogs too. She'd eat them cold out of the fridge. My nephew is ice cream. I know one kid that will only drink milk.
It could be that she is missing something vitamin-wise. Does she take a daily vitamin?
M.

My daughter of similar age loves "Pe Ba" too. I wouldn't worry about it. It's a protein and as long as she is continuing to eat her fruits and veggies, I do not think you are doing anything wrong.

Hi L.,

I had to smile when I read this post -- cute. My son also loves peanut butter. Its a great snack (lots of good protein and some fiber)! If youre concerned about the sugar and/or salt content, then try switching to Smuckers no salt added creamy peanut butter. It only has 1g of sugar.

Cheers!
J.

Don't freak out! I have a now 17 year old 6'4" inch son who refused to eat anything unless it was accompanied with peanut butter when he was that age. He would only eat dinner, breakfast, lunch, if I promised peanut butter with it. I gave up trying and he eventually grew out of it, although it's still one of his favorite foods. My now one year old granddaughter lived for two months on Gerber's Peach cobbler alone. Just make sure that he eats vegetables and fruits (which it sould like you are doing so that she'll be regular and wait it out. If she's still a peanut butter addict when she is 18, you have your degree and you can pychoanalize her then. :)

Neata, single mother to six kids: Three boys: 22, 17, and 15; three girls: 25, 9, and 5; two grandgirls: 6 and 1; a neice (practically lived in my home age 25 now). And as if the kids weren't enough three dogs, a 2 year old Newfie, a 10 month old LabRottie mix, and a 17 month old puggle. Chaos is the only way to go!

Hi L.,

I would trust her. What I have learned in my holistic practice is that there are some people who are designed to eat very specific things over and over, sometimes for months at a time. If she is innately doing this at 3, there's a good chance this is her nature.

There is so much that is not understood about our bodies that is more recently being revealed.

Best to you and your family,
S.

Skinny Kid Loves Peanut Butter! Stop the presses! (Oh, I am just imagining The Onion headlines now...)

At first I was having a hard time figuring out what the big deal was...and then I realized that we've all gone collectively insane, right??

Okay fine, eating peanut butter with a spoon is a little gross, and akin to drinking milk out of the carton -- so you might want to curb that behavior before it takes hold.

But Miss Manners aside, I beg you to chill. I also beg you to NOT buy that "organic" peanut butter as some commenters suggest. My mother did that in the seventies (during an insane phase where she also baked "zuchinni cookies"), and let me tell you -- it is BEYOND disgusting (if your child possesses taste buds she will recognize this fact instantly).

Just give her the peanut butter. On a sandwich. As god intended. (okay, yes, or apple slices, or celery, or crackers...) I'm so sorry, but this is really, really funny!

Just to reassure you, my daughter just turned 19 and for many years of her childhood she only ate 3-4 different foods. She is now a healthy, smart young adult...and she never was malnourished!! My pediatrician kept telling me that she would eat what she needed and, at the time, I had a hard time believing that any child could live just on peanut butter sandwiches and ice cream :) I would feed my daughter her favorite foods at every meal, but I'd also put something new on her plate to expose her to different options (even though she never ate the new foods!).
I would recommend giving your daughter a child multivitamin every day and keep giving her the natural healthy peanut butter, because her body probably needs the protein or something else in peanuts.
My daughter is still a VERY picky eater, but she did eventually start eating more than PB&J sandwiches. And she still takes her vitamins :)

If she likes...and she eats it...I'd think that it was fine. However, be aware that peanuts have the highest level of pesticides in them (YUCK!) You might want to consider organic peanut butter! Also, if sugar is a concern, you could try peanut butter that is ONLY PEANUTS! I buy that and add either honey or agave nectar right into the jar!

I'm not a a nutritionist...just coming from what I've read. Good luck!

Hi L.!
Hey face it, it could be worse, like she'll only eat chocolate :). Actually, my son (now 20) went through phases where he would only eat certain things. I asked the doc, he said sometimes we crave things because our bodies need something in that food. So if your daughter is a picky eater, maybe she's not getting enough protein, therefore she needs the peanut butter. Try what my son used to call ants on a log - peanut butter on celery with a few raisins on top just for variety. If not, she'll change her mind and find something else she "needs".
Good Luck!

Hi L.,

Have you talked to your pediatrician? Call your local children's hospital and talk to the nutritionist to see what he/she says.

Good luck. D.

eh she likes pnutbutter. could be a phase. could be a worse food. but i would continue to offer it w/ other foods, celery, apples..... and wean her off it, every other day or just once a day. what does your dr. say?

Be concerned about the presence of palm oil in Skippy. It's high in saturated fat, and possibly linked to cardiovascular disease. Also, the sugar content adds up if she's eating so much at a time.

I agree with others who suggest that you try other brands that are purely peanuts, or peanuts & salt. You might have to mix it with Skippy to get your daughter to make the transition, but it'll be worth the effort.

My 2 1/2 year old goes through phases of the same thing. I don't hink it's a problem but if we get too carried away he has a bit of a problem with constipation so keep a watch for that. Just let her be and she'll get tired of it soon enough and move onto something equally stressful!

Good luck~

Nut butters are actually very nutritious, but try to buy the natural pb that has nothing but peanuts in it. She is young enough that you can shape her to like this version best. Also expose her to almond butter, soy butter, etc. I think it is great, if you avoid white bread and jelly - use just whole grains and whole fruit and veggies. My four-year old's favorite meal is natural pb on 100% whole wheat with sliced bananas or apple butter (just apples no sugar).

When I was pregnant, she ate that every day for lunch for about three months!!

If you are interested, Dr. Sears' "Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood" is FANTASTIC as a nutrition guide and it is a really easy read. They talk a lot about this topic.

I don't see a problem with it especially since you said she doesn't eat a lot of food. When my daughter was 2 she would only eat yogurt, cheddar cheese and rice, she's 14 now and eats everything! Peanut butter is pretty good, nice protein. It could be worse, it could be frosting!

If she's eating a whole jar in one sitting that ends up being quite a bit of sugar. I buy peanut butter that is only peanuts and a little added salt - no sugar or added oil. Other than that of all the things to be addicted to it's probably not too bad although I might check with you dr just to make sure.

Oh and good luck with school I'm currently finishing and English and Psych degree online.
R. A

Wow, I am not alone!

For almost two years - from the age of 1 to about 3, my now-4yr old ate at least one and sometimes two meals of peanut butter every day! (We are also a Skippy family = ) I would spread it on reduced fat triscuits or the wheat/ low sodium saltines, after a while I added raisins pressed
in on top.

This is still one of her favorite meals. I have gotten her to reluctantly eat it on whole grain bread, but she still likes it plain (no jelly). We allow her to have a spoonful of it once in a while as a treat.

I worried at first over it too, but I figured, PB has a lot of protein and fiber, as well as 'good' fats. At her age, she's needing fat for her brain (and other parts) to develop properly, so it's all good! I was happy that she wasn't addicted to chicken nuggets or something else fried.

I'd recommend that you move her away from eating it on a spoon - put it on crackers, toast, bread, apples, carrots, celery, etc. It will get her to eat other things, and it will be easier on you in the long run - if you're packing lunches for an outing, it's far easier to tote along a peanut butter sandwich than a bowl of peanut butter.

Don't stress and good luck!

Dear L. W.,
When my daughter was 3 or 4 years old, all she seemed to want to eat was peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches and hot dogs. I was so riddled with guilt I "confessed" this to her pediatrician, and braced myself for the threat of social services getting involved and taking her away. He calmly informed me this was normal and not a problem. He stated she passed her physical and was apparently getting the nutrients her body needed. She was slender then and at sixteen is still slender. May I suggest you talk with her pediatrician if this continues to bother you. Good Luck.

The only concern I would have is her eating spoonfulls of peanut butter, since this is a choking hazard. Many children have choked on a big glob of peanut butter when they try to swallow it. So I'd put it on bread, apples, crackers, or something else. She can dip fruit, celery, or even pretzels in the peanut butter also. And like the others, I would go for a natural peanut butter with nothing in them other than peanuts and salt. If you're near a Trader Joes, they have an excellent natural peanut butter that is very inexpensive, as well as organics and other nut butters. You have to stir it up each time, but it is very yummy!

I would just recommend caution in that she could end up developing an allergy to peanuts.

Too much of anything -even a good thing- can be bad, eventually.

I used to teach 3yr olds at a pre-school. They're able to understand alot more than you'd think. I would recommend you start telling her that "Sometimes, if we have too much of good things, it can make us sick. I can't give you Peanut Butter today. I don't want it to make you sick. Let's choose another snack today and you can have Peanut Butter tomorrow." Then, I just suggest attention and care as to how much you give her when you do give it to her and how often you give it to her. Maybe you can try graham crackers with Cool-Whip or crackers with jelly or cheese, or maybe fruit salad as alternatives to see if you can vary her interest.

I hope this helps.

Peanut butter is a nutrient rich food. I dont see any harm in it. All kids have their addictions. When my daughter was that age, she was addicted to chicken nuggets and even wanted them for breakfast. Now shes burned herself out on them.

I would just keep offering the variety of foods so she can see thats what you are supposed to do. But if thats all she wants right now, so what! Its easy, cheap, and healthy! Sounds like you are giving her the good stuff too.

If you got really sick of it- you could try buying peanut butter you dont think she'd like and offering that to her (maybe the really thick organic stuff that isnt very sweet). Maybe that'll turn her taste buds!

I wouldnt worry about it though, she sounds healthy and happy.

Peanut butter isnt a bad food at all!
Now, as suggest by several others you should do a little comparison shopping and find the absolute best (least suger/most protien) variety and use that. You should also give other "butters" a shot...Sesame seed butter (called tahini) is mild and tastes alot like peanut butter, and there's other nut-butters she may like as well.
As far as developing a food allergy, yes too much of anything can cause problems but I highly doubt shell magically develop an allergy if she's not had any problem thusfar. Don't stress yourself.
If shes eating a ton (like more then a cup) or pb a day, watch her for poo issues...make sure she gets pleanty of milk and water to help.

Good luck!

Yep, I agree with everyone that nut butters can be very healthful (but skip the ones with palm oil and lots of sugars; also, those 16 grams of fat are for a small serving and add up really fast into much more). We eat "soy nut" butter frequently and my daughter loves it. But kids also need to learn moderation, even or maybe especially in the "I'll only eat one kind of food" stages. I'd ensure she does not have access to it so she cannot just get it without your say-so. I'd also limit her to one serving a day (not by the spoonful due to the choking hazard). Then when she comes asking for more, the answer can be, "You've had today's peanut butter. How about a banana or apple (or two other snacks) instead?" When she whines, well, "That's what's being offered now -- banana or apple. You get to choose!" etc. Vary the choices but stick to your guns. That's the only way I've gotten my starch-lover daughter to choose more fruits and non-bread/cracker snacks, by telling her the choices and limiting them. Having your child participate by helping "cut" the banana with a kiddie knife or wash the grapes she'll eat also can distract her from wanting just PB.

Peanut butter is actually pretty good for her. Just make sure she doesn't end up being constipated and keep offering the apples. Make sure (with her pediatrician) she can't develop some sort of peanut allergy by eating too much of it. At least she seems "addicted" to something that is reasonably healthy!

R. M

We use a natural peanut butter, you mix it once and leave it in the fridge. There is no palm oil (which is not good for you). The consistency is similar to the others, and you don't have to mix it every time.

Other than that, peanut butter is the most concentrated form of protein there is. She is definitely getting her daily requirement!

I'd see if I could incorporate it into other things... there is a peanut butter type of salad dressing I think it's Thai, see if she'll eat veggies in a salad that way.

Chicken Satay is wonderful, has a peanut butter sauce ... and you can drissle it over whatever veggies are served.

Or just use it as a dip for carrots, zucchini, celery, etc

How is the rest of her diet?

Switch her to smuckers organic..even if you don't get the organic one it is the natural one you stir then refrigerate it is an excellent source of food...that is wonderful!!!! C. ____@____.com
if you could also get it onto a good fiber bread that would even be better...this is a blessing liking peanut butter...it is a protein and proteins are good!!

Hee hee hee! My son (3) is not the only one!!!! He is VERY picky about what he eats. He is not overweight by any stretch either, and I figure this... it is high in protein, and nuts usually have the better fats. Some peanut butters have no sugar added, this is what we get. He usually asks me for " a lick of peanut butter" when I ask him if he wants toast and peanut butter. I have been known to give him a bowl of PB with a baby spoon (so he can't get too much at once and choke!) and he will finish it and ask for more. If your daughter is as picky as my son (and not overwieght, like you said) I say go for it. She will outgrow it, especially when she gets to preschool, and her new friends are not doing the same. I usually give it with applesauce, which, along with cheese, he will usually eat wothout protest!! (dairy, fruit, protein, not bad!)
Good luck!!
J.

Hang in there -- kids (and adults!) go through food fads. Most likely, she'll get sick of it soon enough! Be glad she is "stuck" on something relative healthy. After all, peanut butter has a lot of protein. You might try giving her some other things to learn to spread it on -- celery, apples, pears, crackers... anything other than your keyboard! Because the food is easy-to-use and spread, she might like the independence of "fixing" it all by herself. Why not try her with some other easy or spreadable foods -- cream cheeses, dips, yogurt products, other nut butters and foods where you might proudly hear her say "I can do it by myself!"