NEW YORK — March 1 is National Peanut Butter Lovers Day, and fans of the lunchtime staple will certainly be celebrating. But what’s your preference when it comes to peanut butter? Whether or not you like it creamy or crunchy may actually say more about you than you think, according to a new survey. More importantly, it might also reveal if your relationship is headed for a sticky situation.
The OnePoll study examines the peanut butter and snacking preferences of 2,000 Americans – evenly split by their preference of crunchy vs. creamy. Researchers say that those who enjoy the crunchy kind have a cheerier outlook on life.
Sixty-three percent of those who prefer crunchy peanut butter describe themselves as optimists, compared to 56 percent of those who prefer creamy. Other personality traits for creamy fans include being more of an early bird and being more introverted. Their crunchy counterparts on the other hand are more likely to be night owls and extroverts.
Commissioned by Jif ahead of National Peanut Butter Lovers Day, the survey also finds a third of all respondents described themselves as “extremely” passionate about their peanut butter preference.
Americans are so passionate, in fact, that rather than asking your date what they do for a living or where they’ll see themselves in five years – you may want to ask about their peanut butter preference. The results show that nearly half of all respondents said it would be a deal-breaker to find out their date is on the opposite side of the creamy vs. crunchy debate.
Do creamy peanut butter fans get more criticism?
Sixty-three percent of all respondents said they would pass on eating peanut butter altogether if it’s not the kind they prefer. When asked to reflect on their childhoods, the survey finds creamy fans were teased more over their peanut butter preference than their crunchy counterparts (47% vs. 28%).
Surprisingly, those who prefer creamy are more likely to be judged for their preference than those who prefer crunchy (50% vs. 32%). Two in three admit they’ve felt pressure to pick crunchy just to fit in. Only 50 percent of crunchy fans can say the same.
“We love to see Americans’ passion about their peanut butter,” says Jake Calhoun, Director of Brand Strategy for the Jif Brand, in a statement. “Regardless of which type of peanut butter you prefer; the results show over a third (35%) of Americans prefer to eat their peanut butter directly from the source.”
Both groups do have some common ground, however, through their love of animals. When asked about their preference for dogs or cats, a third of both parties shared they love both species equally. Another common ground for both parties comes down to making a classic PB&J. Both parties prefer grape jelly over strawberry.
“As we gear up for one of our favorite holidays – National Peanut Butter Lovers Day – on March 1, we hope American’s are able to enjoy their favorite peanut butter, no matter what their preferences are,” Calhoun adds. “National Peanut Butter Lovers Day celebrates all types, from creamy and crunchy, straight from the jar and straight from the pouch.”