Where Do Peanuts Fit?

School Nutrition Requirements

• 2 tablespoons of peanut butter can be counted as 1 meat/meat alternate option.

• 1 ounce of peanuts can be counted as 1 meat/meat alternate option.

Affordability

Peanut products provide a cost-effective, plant-based protein meat/meat alternate option with minimal labor investment that children love. Peanuts are versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes, ranging from snacks to meals. Using peanuts or peanut butter can also help reduce the cost of a full serving of another meat/meat alternate.

Convenience

Because it is shelf-stable, peanut butter is also a food that’s perfect for keeping in stock all the time as part of your emergency preparedness planning and in cases of supply chain disruptions.

Versatility

Peanuts and peanut butter can be used to meet the discriminating tastes of your students, harnessing food trends and preferences including global flavors, familiar favorites, and plant-based eating.

As schools look for ways to shift toward revised meal standards, peanut butter can brings lots of flavor and help reduce sodium and added sugar.