YOU KNOW the old joke about Chinese food? An hour after eating it you’re ready for a pizza. We’ve found its opposite.
As reported in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders researchers at Purdue University have determined which food keeps you feeling full the longest after you’ve left the table: peanut butter. Twenty-four volunteers were asked to sample various foods; peanuts, peanut butter, almonds, chestnuts. chocolate, rice cakes and pickles-to see what effect each had on their appetites. All the portions were measured to provide equal caloric value.
The people who were given peanut butter reported feeling satisfied the longest while the other foods kept the subjects satisfied about the same length of time. But if you’re thinking that a peanut butter sandwich can work as a between meal snack, know that the portions in the study contained 500 calories. Try a tablespoon of natural peanut butter instead 100 calories and see how you manage.