I am so excited to share this Food Find with you!
At Trader Joe’s we found Dark Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter Cups; and they are so good!
I have a confession to make. I really like Peanut Butter. I know this is a Nut Free Allergy Blog and since my daughter’s diagnosis I don’t eat it often anymore, but I like peanut butter. One of my favorite indulgences is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Since my daughter’s diagnosis we don’t keep them in the house, but occasionally I can sneak one at work. So, when I say these Dark Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter Cups are good, I mean they are good, and as close to a safe peanut butter cup as we have experienced so far.
We were at our local Trader Joe’s. I love shopping there! I like picking up the cut flowers and plants (these make great gifts…Hello Valentine’s Day!). We always buy tamales when we are there also. If you haven’t tried the frozen tamales from TJ, you are in for a treat. On our search for tamales is when I found the Sunflower Seed Butter Cups. We found them on the shelf above the freezer chest, and you need a keen eye. The bags of items are not separated by allergen, so be aware that the bags of the Dark Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter Cups could be sitting next to peanut products. And, like a lot of Trader Joe’s items, can be seasonal. (I see you Danish Kringle.) Trader Joe’s does carry a lot of peanut and other nut products. So I am super excited when we find something safe and yummy!
My allergic daughter says they are a good blend of salty and sweet, and she really enjoyed them. She is familiar with sunbutter having had them as sandwiches instead of PBJs. but she loves them. Even my son, who is allergy free, enjoyed them also. We may have done a happy dance when we found these and checked the ingredient list and found them safe!
A very telling moment occurred in the car leaving Trader Joe’s. We loaded the trunk and pulled the bag of butter cups out to eat immediately. I was so excited to find this treat and wanted to have my girl try them as quickly as possible. Before pulling out of the parking lot, we had both popped a cup in our mouths. The chocolate melted just right and there is a perfect ratio of chocolate to sunflower butter. I looked over expectantly to hear my daughter’s assessment of the treat. She said it was good, and then she floored me with the next comment, “How similar are these to peanut butter cups?” I have taken so many of these food moments for granted. In that singular moment, I thought about all the foods I can eat, but that she can’t because they could potentially kill her. Donuts, pesto, trail mix, crepes, pecan pie, turtle clusters, moon pies…peanut butter cups. She has never and most likely will never, eat one. This moment of celebration was amazing, but I never forget that there are things that most folks can enjoy but people with allergies may not ever.
This is why I blog, for my daughter and to share with others. I want other allergic individuals to be able to find foods they can eat safely but also to remind those without allergies the risks and the dangers for people with allergies.
I hope that the next time you make it to Trader Joe’s you can snag your own bag of Dark Chocolate Sunbutter Cups.
