Peanut Butter Alternatives at Hiller's

The school year has begun and families are trying to avoid the feud over what kids will eat for lunch.

The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is still a lunchbox staple but with so many children diagnosed with a peanut allergy and some schools becoming peanut free, lunch making has gotten complicated.

Hiller’s is offering some alternatives. We always recommend you check with your physician before trying new foods, especially if you already have allergies.

1. Cream cheese
This is a fantastic sandwich spread. It has has a thick, spreadable texture; it acts as a moisture barrier to keep bread from getting soggy; and it comes in flavors from fruit (to go with jelly) to chopped vegetable (to go with cold cuts). It can be spread on bagels with lox or on crackers with fruit on top. If you have dairy allergies, this is clearly not an option for you.

2. Guacamole
Guacamole is hearty enough to stand on its own as a sandwich topping. It goes especially well in pitas and tortillas and makes a nice counterpart to chicken.

3. Whole berry cranberry sauce
Are you accustomed to buying or making cranberry sauce once a year: at thanksgiving. It is a lovely counterpart to turkey or chicken sandwiches throughout the school year. You can also add mayonnaise to keep your bread from getting soggy.

4. Hummus
A Middle Eastern appetizer that is beginning to gain wider recognition in the United States is the chickpea spread called Hummus. Hiller’s sells a variety and it goes great with Pita bread and some salad. This vegetarian-based spread is high in protein; it is especially good for vegetarian families. It is a great alternative to not only peanut butter but also mayonnaise.

5. Vegetable Purees
Many kids who will not eat vegetables in their whole forms will eat them if they are cleverly disguised. Vegetable purees, like Red Pepper Puree, are colorful and tasty, betraying little hint of their healthful origins. They make excellent sandwich spreads, though you will want to add a moisture barrier like cream cheese, butter, or oil to prevent soggy bread.

6. Salad Dressing
Salad dressings are a potential source of hidden allergens, so do check labels closely. However, your child's favorite dressing might be delicious on a sandwich. Try bleu cheese, ranch, or thousand island.

7. Bean Dips
Like hummus, Mexican-inspired bean dips make hearty sandwich spreads. Serve them with Colby-Jack or Asadero cheese and some salsa.

8. Soy and Sunflower Butters
Two items specifically created for kids with peanut allergies (or who might be attending peanut-free schools) are "soy nut" butter and sunflower seed butter. Both are peanut and tree nut-free, although soy nut butter is obviously not safe for children with soy allergies.

9. Other Nut Butters
CAUTION: This may be a risky alternative, as some children who are allergic to peanuts are allergic to other tree nuts as well. However, if your child has been tested and is definitely allergic to only peanuts and not to other tree nuts, other nut butters will be the nearest experience to peanut butter you can get. Almond butter, cashew butter, and hazelnut butter are relatively widely available. Talk to your allergist or dietitian if you have any concerns about the suitability of tree nut butters for your child's diet.