The Almond-butter Alternative

BACK TO BASICS | by JEAN GALTON

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT PB & J is the go-to school lunch, able to withstand being jostled in a lunchbox as well as hours of no refrigeration. But with serious peanut allergies and salmonella scares on the rise, almond butter could be a great substitute. Protein-packed with a wonderful toasty flavor, almond butter makes an easy, satisfying (and healthy) sandwich.

© ANGIE NORWOOD BROWNE

Use any kind of bread that your kids will eat (personally, I’m addicted to multigrain and sprouted breads, but my kids think differently). Spread with almond butter and combine with one of these:

• Strawberry jam and a sprinkling of ground flax
• Sour-cherry preserves
• Apple butter, apple slices and a sprinkling of cinnamon
• Sliced banana, alfalfa sprouts and a drizzle of honey
• Sliced peaches or nectarines and apricot jam
• Sliced baked teriyaki tofu and cucumber
• Smoked turkey, dried cranberries, sprouts and sliced cucumber
• Sliced chicken, grated radishes and cilantro
• A sprinkling of chile powder and sliced mango
• Ham, a sprinkling of smoked paprika and apricot jam