What Is a Healthy Serving Size of Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter is an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, which help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. It also contains protein and fiber, and tastes delicious spread onto apple slices or whole-wheat toast. The high fat content means that peanut butter is also high in calories, however, so eating more than a single serving can quickly put a damper on your diet.

Serving Size

One recommended serving of peanut butter is 2 tablespoons, which is about the size of a ping-pong ball. That serving contains about 188 calories, 145 of which come from fat. Thus, peanut butter is more than 75 percent fat; the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting fat to just 20 to 35 percent of total calorie intake. While this doesn't mean that peanut butter is off-limits, it does mean you should avoid larger servings and balance it with foods that contain little or no fat.