It’s National Peanut Butter Day! The average person consumes more than six pounds of peanut products each year, making peanut butter a very popular household food.

Peanut butter was invented by George Bayle, a St. Louis snack food maker, during the 1890s. For many years, peanut butter manufacturers struggled with the oil separating from the grainy solids of the peanut butter. In 1923 Heinz became the first company to homogenize the peanuts into the spreadable butter we know and love today. After perfecting the recipe, peanut butter soon became a classic American food.

Did you know that it takes 550 peanuts to make a 12 ounce jar of peanut butter? Peanuts are cholesterol free and an excellent source of protein. In fact, it’s the high protein content that causes peanut butter to stick to the roof of your mouth.

To celebrate National Peanut Butter Day, bake some peanut butter cookies, spread some tasty peanut butter on toast, or enjoy a spoonful right out of the jar!