Few pantry staples are as versatile, familiar, and universally loved as peanut butter. Whether it’s spread on toast, added to recipes, paired with fruits and vegetables, or enjoyed straight from the spoon, peanut butter is a product that consistently delivers both nutrition and value.

For food banks and hunger relief organizations, it has become a distribution staple because it checks so many important boxes. It’s shelf-stable, protein-rich, family-friendly, and incredibly versatile across meals and snacks.

This month, we’re featuring Natural Way Creamy Peanut Butter, a product that demonstrates how simple ingredients and thoughtful manufacturing can create a nutritious option that supports both food distribution goals and household needs.

Why This Product Works for Hunger Relief

When organizations are selecting products for distribution, nutritional value, shelf stability, client appeal, and versatility all matter. Natural Way Creamy Peanut Butter performs well across all four areas.

Made with just three ingredients, roasted peanuts, sugar, and salt, Natural Way focuses on keeping its formula simple and free from unnecessary fillers or additives. The peanuts are roasted in-house, and the company retains the peanut skins during processing to preserve more of the naturally occurring nutrients found in the peanuts.

In addition, Natural Way utilizes high-oleic peanuts, which contain higher levels of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. These peanuts also provide improved shelf life and greater resistance to spoilage, an important benefit for both food banks and pantry operations managing inventory over time. The result is a product that offers a familiar taste while supporting nutrition-focused food distribution programs.

What Makes Natural Way Different?

In a category often dominated by products containing palm oil, hydrogenated oils, and lengthy ingredient lists, Natural Way has intentionally chosen a different approach.

Simple Ingredients

Natural Way Creamy Peanut Butter contains only:

• Roasted peanuts
• Sugar
• Salt

There are no additional fillers or emulsifiers, creating a clean, straightforward product that families can feel good about enjoying.

Nutrition-Focused Formulation

Natural Way’s peanut butter was specifically developed with food banks and hunger relief organizations in mind. The formulation meets USDA “green” food category guidelines, making it a product organizations can confidently distribute as part of nutrition-focused programming.

Made with High-Oleic Peanuts

High-oleic peanuts naturally contain increased levels of monounsaturated fats, the same type of healthy fats found in foods like olive oil and avocados. These peanuts provide nutritional benefits while also helping maintain product quality over time.

Proudly Made in the USA

All ingredients are sourced from within the United States, supporting domestic agriculture and manufacturing while ensuring high-quality ingredient standards.

Sustainability-Minded Approach

Natural Way was founded on the belief that healthier products and responsible business practices can go hand in hand. The company uses olive oil across its nut butter portfolio and was built around a commitment to providing products that prioritize both wellness and environmental sustainability.

About Our Partner: Natural Way

Natural Way was founded in 2017 by Austin and Quinn, two entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to create nut butters that aligned with their own healthy lifestyles and values.

Their goal was simple: provide high-quality nut butters made with fewer ingredients, less sugar, no palm oil, and a commitment to sustainability. What began as a passion project quickly grew into a brand focused on delivering great-tasting products without sacrificing nutritional quality.

Today, Natural Way continues to innovate while maintaining its commitment to simple ingredients, responsible sourcing, and products that serve both commercial and hunger relief markets.

Where We See the Value

Natural Way Creamy Peanut Butter is a highly flexible product that fits a variety of distribution programs, including:

• Standard pantry distributions
• Family food box programs
• Senior nutrition programs
• Child-focused feeding initiatives
• School break meal programs
• Disaster relief and emergency food boxes
• Community meal preparation programs

Peanut butter requires no refrigeration before opening and can be incorporated into breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts. It provides exceptional value for households working to stretch limited food budgets. Its broad appeal also helps ensure the product is used and enjoyed, reducing the likelihood of waste while maximizing the impact of every distribution.

Featured Recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites

One of the greatest strengths of peanut butter is its versatility. These No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites are quick to prepare, require minimal ingredients, and offer a convenient snack option for busy families.

Why This Recipe Works

• Uses just four simple ingredients
• No baking required
• Quick 5-minute preparation
• Kid-friendly and family-friendly
• Great source of energy and protein
• Easy to scale up or down based on household needs

No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Makes: 12 servings
Serving Size: 1 energy bite

Ingredients

• ½ cup quick-cooking oats (old-fashioned oats may also be used)
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ¼ cup Natural Way Creamy Peanut Butter

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, combine the oats and chocolate chips.
2. Add the peanut butter and honey.
3. Stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
4. Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, portion the mixture into 12 equal servings.
5. Roll each portion into a ball using your hands.
6. Refrigerate in an airtight container for at least one hour before serving for the best texture.

Recipe courtesy of Kathleen Phillips at Grits and Gouda.