Our savvy supporters often ask which foods are the best to donate. To shed some light on the subject, we are reintroducing our Food of the Month series.Most of the foods are shelf stable, pack plenty of nutrition and are easy to prepare.  For more information on our most-needed food items, check out our website. Let’s kick off the year with peanut butter! Did you know today is National Peanut Butter Day? Every year, the U.S. celebrates peanut butter on January 24th! Why should we celebrate this nutty concoction once a year? The nutritious value of peanut butter is hard to overlook. According to the National Peanut Board (NPB), the average American consumes more than six pounds of peanuts and peanut butter products every year! There are more than 30 essential vitamins and minerals that come with peanut and peanut butter consumption.  Peanuts alone contain vitamin E, fiber, magnesium and folate.  There is plenty of niacin (Vitamin B) too, which helps us convert our consumed food to energy. And while the Vitamin E from peanuts provides antioxidants, its dietary fiber content helps your body to digest foods and absorb nutrients. To top it off, peanuts exceed other nuts by having the most protein, niacin, folate and phytoserols. The nutritional value of one serving size peanut butter can be surprising for many. Apart from the health benefits of peanut butter, the spread pairs well with a variety of foods. Items such as breads, jellies, apples, bananas, smoothies, marinades, baked goods and salad dressing can be heightened with the addition of peanut butter. To read more about peanuts and recipes with peanut butter, check out the NPB’s recipe website. You can help get peanut butter into the hands of families in need by hosting a drive or mini collection where you live, work or play.  Register for a drive today or drop some off at our San Jose or San Carlos warehouse.  We encourage you to go nuts!