A Research and Self-Reflection on Peanut Butter

Self-Reflection Summary

The reason I chose this particular area of research is that peanut butter is an extremely popular food choice worldwide as it is affordable and nutritious; and I also love to eat it. However, the number of brands and the choices within the brand range make it complicated for the consumer and myself to choose the most nutritious option. Prior to this research I did not understand the nutritional content of the food I ate.

On every food product there is a table of nutritional information that states the exact health contents of the food. There is also a list of ingredients that provides consumers with details regarding the food. In today’s times, consumers are flooded with choices of seemingly similar products. I do not know the difference in nutrition amongst these products. Food labelling is often misleading and deceptive, and I feel as if I have been left in the dark, but also that there is a hidden shadow side that may exist as consumers’ ignoracne may lead to naive incorrect choices.

The process of completeing my research task taught me many valuable lessons. In compiling the literature review I learnt how to filter information, as well as how to use citations. The method and results section showed me how to transfer information from labels into suitable graphs and tables, in order to make comparisons and analysises. I learnt how to critically examine graphs and tables, and draw accurate and educated conclusions when completing the discussion section. Through this project, I also realised the importance of reflecting back on any limitations encountered inorder to learn from your mistakes, and find improvements for further research. In addition, I learnt how to reference sources correctly.

These skill...

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... If further research is to be done, I recommend that it should explore and compare other kinds of peanut butters. Organic peanut butter, creamy peanut butter, sugar-free peanut butter, sodium-free peanut butter and natural peanut butter could be investigated.

In addition, other kinds of nut and seed butters can be studied. For example: almond butter, cashew butter, hazelnut butter, sesame butter and sunflower butter.

Furthermore, different brands of peanut butters can be researched. For example: Black Cat, Skippy, Woolworths, Pick ‘n Pay no name brand and Reese’s Peanut Butter.

Another limitation was only peanut butter labels were compared in detail, and that consumer’s preferences were not explore. This research could be improved by including surveys that look at different aged and gendered peoples’ preferences of peanut butter and their reasons for their choice.