If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, then you know that my boys are allergic to nuts. When Benjamin was about 1, I gave him his first pb&j. After one bite he started breaking out on his hands and face. The little whelps spread all over and he began to scratch. His already poofy lips became little blimps. I loaded him with Benadryll and called our pediatrician. Not long after that incident we had him tested for all kinds of food allergies.

Because of Benjamin’s allergies, after our third child was born we decided that we needed to avoid the same foods just in case he was allergic, too. I never even offered him a pb&j after he turned 1. It was an accident that we found out about his nut allergy. Karl left a bag Reece’s Pieces on the table and, unbeknownst to the rest of us, Noah decided that he wanted to try one. After a few moments he started to vomit, and we had no idea why. He eventually confessed to sneaking a piece of candy. And that’s how we learned he must be allergic to peanuts, too. We’ve since had him tested, and the doc says his allergy to peanuts is severe.

The other day when I mentioned Babycakes, Wendy recommended that we try Sunbutter. It is sunflower seeds creamed to make sunflower seed butter, the same way that peanuts are creamed to make peanut butter. We went to Target yesterday and found some. And today…Benjamin had a Sunbutter & jelly sandwich. He loved it!

I tasted it and thought it was delicious. If you like sunflower seeds, then you’ll like Sunbutter. It has all the same nutritional qualities as peanut butter: low in sugar, high in protein, high in other vitamins and minerals. Sunbutter comes creamy, crunchy, organic, natural, honey crunch, and natural crunch. It is processed in a peanut free and tree nut free environment. For more peace of mind:

We grind specially selected and roasted sunflower seed into the new nutritionally packed spread that can function as a direct peanut butter replacement; allowing for a peanut-free, tree nut-free, and great tasting food for your family. Each batch is tested for trace amounts of peanut protein.

I get nothing for writing this. The company has not asked me to write this (they have no idea) and I will not receive anything for my excellent service as a food critic. I just wanted to pass this along so that other moms with children who have food allergies will know about it. Click on the jar at the top of this post for more info!