What Is a Healthy Serving Size of Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter can make a very healthy snack. Peanut butter provides a wide variety of health benefits and is a source of calcium and protein. While peanut butter should be consumed in moderation, a few servings of this food can be a healthy addition to your diet. By understanding how much a single serving size is, as well as the health benefits of each serving, you can determine how many servings of peanut butter will fit into your own diet.

Serving Size

One serving of peanut butter is usually considered to be about 2 tablespoons, or the size of a ping pong ball.

Calories

Two tablespoons of smooth peanut butter without salt contains about 188 calories. Of these, 135 are from fat.

Cholesterol

Peanut butter is very low in cholesterol and can be low in sodium when made without salt.

Fat

Although peanuts contain fats, these are mostly monounsaturated fats which are healthier than other types and may help to protect against heart disease.

Minerals

Two tablespoons of smooth peanut butter contains 49 mg of magnesium and 208 mg of potassium.

References

• USDA National Nutrient Database
• Peanuts and Peanut Butter
• Peanut Nutrition Basics