A few years ago I was helping a friend with her nutrition as she trained for a marathon, and I remember telling her “PB&Js are going to be your new best friend!” She couldn’t believe that something as simple as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was one of her healthiest choices and could offer her the perfect fuel in a convenient hand-held form. Before her big Saturday runs, I would stash two PB&Js in her training packs along with some electrolytes and other snacks.

Nutritionists like myself have often touted the benefits of a simple jelly and peanut butter sandwich as part of a balanced diet:

• They’re easy to make – anyone can do it! 
• They offer a nice balance of macronutrients, including protein, carbs, fiber, and healthy fats
• The bread and jelly supply quick-release carbohydrate-based energy and B vitamins to fuel movement and brain activity
• The peanut butter provides slow-release energy and unsaturated fat for satiety that lasts plus blood sugar balance, as well as vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium
• You can customize them with favorite bread, nut butters, jams, and other toppers
• They’re easy to pack and don’t require any utensils to eat, not even a plate!   
• They’re a 100% plant-based food with zero cholesterol, offering a nutritious option for many special diets (such as dairy free or vegan), religions, and cultures
• The ingredients are relatively low cost, easy to find, and have appealing flavor, meaning it’s a nutritious food that many people can access

   

But PB&Js aren’t just a great choice for marathoners. They can provide a perfect package of nutrition for anyone–no matter their activity level–from kids to adults.

And, whether you make them with whole grain bread or white bread; peanut butter, sunflower-seed butter, or cashew-almond butter; grape jelly or raspberry preserves, a pb&j will always offer the health benefits and nutritional value listed above.

Sandos: A Better And Healthy Peanut Butter & Jelly

I still make PB&Js at home, but the premade, pre-wrapped Rudi’s Sandos combine nutrition and ultimate convenience. They’re my favorite healthier option in a pocket-size pb&j. They come frozen, so I love to throw one into my kids’ lunchboxes or toss a few in my bag for an easy family lunch at the park. By the time I reach for them, they’re perfectly thawed and so delicious to eat. 

Here’s how they’re different: 

• Sandos are 40% bigger than the leading portable PB&J, which I love because it provides a more substantial meal or snack for me and my family
• Each one has 9 to 11 grams of protein, which is 50-80% more than the leading brand, as well as 3 grams of fiber
• They’re made with real organic fruit spread, which means my kids are getting more fruit and less added sugar and sweeteners than they are with versions made using jelly and jam
• They come in 4 different types, 2 of which are made with natural peanut butter and 2 of which are made with a peanut-free roasted seed blend – a great option for peanut-free schools, camps, and sport snacks
• They’re made from Rudi’s signature organic white bread so I feel good about the quality 
• They don’t contain any hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or other ingredients I don’t want in my kids’ bodies 

When I pack a Sandos for my kids’ low-sugar lunches, plus some veggies, fresh fruit, and a cheese stick, I know they’re getting optimal nutrition.

Where To Buy Sandos PB&J Sandwiches

Look for Sandos at Whole Foods Markets and Costco sold in the freezer section. By the way, they don’t have to remain frozen. You can store them in your fridge or even toss them (frozen or thawed) right into a bag where they’re fine at room temperature for several hours.

I discovered that I love to eat them slightly warmed for easy breakfasts by tossing one into my toaster oven for a few minutes. But my husband thinks they’re absolutely divine when they’re just slightly thawed, even still a bit frozen in the center. There’s no right or wrong way to eat a Sandos!