Thank goodness for the peanut butter and jelly sandwich

While the world around us swirls at almost breakneck speed these days, from the latest “breaking news” (not much of it good), to rapid transit, changing work conditions, climate change, unstable economy, wars, and of course the mother of all changes, technology and artificial intelligence—I want to take a moment to thank something that has NOT changed over the years, and is still as good as ever.

The peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hereafter to be called “The PBJ.”

Ahh, yes, some things indeed never change, and the good old traditional PBJ is one of those.

This staple of American diets has truly stood the test of time. It has endured wars, climate disasters, and political turmoil, yes. But, maybe even more significantly, it has withstood change in things much closer to home and our daily life, such as job changes, health problems, family issues, divorces, new romances, travel, school, etc.

Through all of this, the PBJ, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, has remained unchanged. Amazingly unfazed by the constant swirl around us.

Sure, maybe the peanut butter is now “reduced fat,” or “lower sugar,” and maybe the bread has gone from Wonder white bread to a healthier whole wheat, but in the grand scheme of things, those are pretty small changes. 

Bottom line? The PBJ is the same as it was a hundred years ago. The lovingly simple recipe of two pieces of bread with peanut butter and jelly in between has stayed the course—and it tastes just as good now as it did then!

I came across this dramatic thought process (all sarcasm fully intended) recently when working at a local food pantry and passing out sandwiches. Guests were offered turkey, ham or peanut butter and jelly choices, and while the selections were varied, the peanut butter and jelly held its own in a close one-on-one popularity battle with the turkey. Sorry, ham fans—but the ham came in an embarrassing distant third.

But for many of the adults, most ranging in age from 30 to 75, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich was still the sandwich of choice, even after all these years of usually being thought of as kind of a kid’s sandwich. These hungry adults proved otherwise. 

Another unique thing about the peanut and butter and jelly sandwich is that it spans through all lifestyles. Income level, rich or poor? Makes no difference.  Religion? Nationality? Age? Sexual preference? Political persuasion? None of that is affected by the common bond of the love of the good old PBJ sandwich.

A special kudos here goes to the parents who still pack a lunch for their young kids to bring to school. I know cafeterias these days, even in the junior highs and grade schools, have really improved their food offerings, and not as many kids bring the lunch box or the brown paper lunch bag to school anymore.

 But still some do! And to those parents who take the time to put together the lunch for their kids to bring to school, we bow in appreciation.

A quick and important addendum here. We are sensitive and well aware of the kids that have peanut allergies and cannot eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  It should absolutely be noted that these peanut allergies can be very dangerous for some, and at the very least a real annoyance for many kids and parents out there who have to constantly be on guard. 

So please understand this column and this writer are by no means taking lightly the seriousness of peanut allergies.

The point being and the original thesis of the column, though, was the realization that so much is rapidly changing in our lives these days, and so much has changed over our entire lifetimes, that it is amazing to think of one of the very few things that hasn’tchanged: the love for the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Amidst all the technology advancements and all the modernization of our societal norms, it is nice to know the PBJ has stood its ground and remained exactly the same. 

One final note:  We have heard some ugly rumors of the "crustless” PBJ or even substituting almond butter instead of actual peanut butter. Blasphemy! Pure rubbish, I say. You just don’t mess with perfection. 

…If I were the editor, I wouldn’t even publish this last paragraph.