Hooray For PB&J

Did you know that the average child will have eaten 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time he or she graduates high school? It’s true, according to the National Peanut Board. The sandwich is such a part of Americana that it has its own day — April 2.

Who hasn’t had a PB&J sandwich in their lunchbox? But do you know how that combination came to be? It dates to 1901 when the first peanut butter and jelly sandwich recipe appeared in the “Boston Cooking School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics,” written by Julia Davis Chandler, a home economist and writer.

At the time, peanut butter spread was being served at fancy parties and high teas in little sandwiches with pimentos and watercress. Chandler decided to use currant or crab apple jelly and called the combination delicious and, as far as she knew, original.

But it was a progression of things that led to PB&J becoming the American staple it is today. First, commercialization of the spread made it less expensive and more readily available. Then in 1928, sliced bread was invented. Finally, PB&J was added to U.S. military rations during World War II. It was high in protein, easy to carry and shelf stable.

When the soldiers came home from the war, sales soared. Parents loved it because it was so easy to make, and kids, well, they just loved it.

Fun fact: It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.

Visit nationalpeanutboard.org