Prioritize Your Passions; Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate

There are a few things in life that just work. Sunshine on your face. A quiet morning before the house wakes up. And, of course… peanut butter and chocolate.

Peanut butter and chocolate is one of those pairings that feels almost sacred in its simplicity: rich, salty, sweet, and deeply satisfying. I even think of it as proof of God's love for me; to create for his beloved children flavors that are delicious alone and perfection together.

Almond Butter is healthier for anti-inflammatory reasons, and it makes a good substitute. But peanut butter is my preferred chocolate pairing.

A Little History of a Perfect Pair

The magic of peanut butter and chocolate goes back to the early 1900s, when a young confectioner named H. B. Reese began experimenting with chocolate and peanut butter fillings. Working on a dairy farm owned by Milton S. Hershey, he eventually created what we now know as the iconic peanut butter cup. What started as a simple experiment became a cultural favorite.

My Daily Practice (Yes, Really)

At some point, I stopped treating my love for peanut butter and chocolate like a guilty pleasure… and started honoring it as a small, daily joy.

Almost every day, I make time for a peanut butter and chocolate snack. In fact I'm enjoying it now, as I write this.

Not rushed. Not hidden. Not judged. Just enjoyed.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: when we allow ourselves simple pleasures without criticism, they become grounding instead of consuming. What used to feel like something I “shouldn’t” do has become something that actually supports me.

Letting Go of the Judgment

There was a time when I would shame it: “I need to stop this, it's making me fat.” OR, “Why can’t I just skip it today?”

But the real question became: What if this isn’t a problem to fix… but a moment to receive?

When I stopped judging the habit, I started noticing it wasn’t out of control. It didn’t take from my life—it added to it. The afternoon lull was lightened by this time for myself.

And that’s an important distinction.

Are Your Passions Healthy or Harmful?

Not every passion serves us in the same way. So how do you know the difference?

A helpful way to discern:

Healthy passions tend to:

• Leave you feeling satisfied, not depleted

• Fit peacefully into your life (not crowd everything else out)

• Be chosen with intention, not urgency

• Feel aligned with who you want to be

  
  

Harmful passions tend to:

• Feel compulsive or hard to pause

• Come with lingering guilt or secrecy

• Disrupt your physical or emotional well-being

• Replace things that matter more deeply to you

  
  

The goal isn’t to eliminate desire—it’s to understand it. To discover why something matters to you gives you permission to love and trust yourself.

Simple Peanut Butter + Chocolate Snack Ideas

If you’re ready to honor this classic combination yourself, here are a few easy, satisfying ideas:

• Apple slices with peanut butter and a drizzle of melted chocolate

• A square of dark chocolate with a spoonful of peanut butter

• Peanut butter and chocolate protein smoothie

• Rice cakes topped with peanut butter and chocolate chips

• Frozen banana slices dipped in peanut butter and coated in chocolate

  
  

Simple. Delicious. No overthinking required.

Prioritizing your passions doesn’t always mean big, life-changing decisions. Sometimes it looks like a quiet, daily choice to enjoy something fully—without judgment.

For me, it looks like peanut butter and chocolate.

And maybe the real gift isn’t the snack itself…but the permission to enjoy it.

With love,

Meredith