It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

This comparison chart shows the results of 191 votes in the “Should it be grape or strawberry jelly” poll. Photo by Diana Stetson

By Diana Stetson

“It’s peanut butter jelly time, peanut butter jelly time, peanut butter jelly time!”

As the mom of two, I’ve heard the song, seen the dancing banana, and yes, made many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Returning to college this fall, I thought about how not too long ago I ate these sandwiches myself when I first started college and I wondered–do current college students still snack on these tasty staples? A thought that inevitably led to one of those great questions that face humankind: grape or strawberry?

Which is it, what flavor jelly do you like best, grape or strawberry?

So, I did a poll. But before I reveal the results, I want to share some fun facts about peanut butter and jelly (PB&J).

First, the average American will eat 2,984 PB&J sandwiches in their lifetime. Of those nearly 3,000 sandwiches, on average, American’s eat 2,500 of them before graduating high school. If you piled all those sandwiches up, it’d make a PB&J monument towering 373 feet high. That’s 68 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty (305 feet tall).

How about a quick tip: if you are packing your PB&J for later, you can keep the bread from getting soggy by putting peanut butter on both sides, then spreading your jelly on top of the peanut butter.

Smuckers introduced “Goober” in 1968, the prepacked combination of peanut butter and jelly. And in 1999, Smuckers purchased the idea for “Uncrustables”, meaning you can eat your pre-made PB&J, sans the crusts.

Speaking of crust, 1 out of 5 people prefer their PB&J with the crust cut off.

Other fun facts: 1 out of every 2 people enjoy drinking milk with their PB&J; 36 percent of people eat bananas with their peanut butter; and 43 percent of the PB&J eaters like to toast their sandwich.

So now, which is better: Grape or Strawberry.

“Strawberry,” Communications major Bela Ruiz said. “I’m a very picky person. I love strawberry.”

Seeing men’s basketball coach Nigel Jenkins with his two daughters at the football game on Saturday, I thought I’d ask the next generation their opinion and, no surprise, they’re divided. “Strawberry,” Maya said, while her sister, Cleo, adds, “I don’t know, the purple one.”

Grape, obviously. And it sounds like Cleo takes after her dad.

“I’m a grape guy,” Nigel Jenkins said. “I love grape, it’s superior to strawberry.”

Sounds like at least one of Coach Jenkins’ colleagues agrees.

“Is there anything else other than grape?” Warrior softball coach Lexy Determan asked.

Across America, Lexy, Nigel and Cleo fit in with the majority of Americans who say grape is their favorite PB&J flavor, with strawberry ranking second.

But then, who didn’t know that? That’s why I did my poll.

And with 191 votes cast and counted, your winner is:
Strawberry! 119 to 64 grapes. And eight votes for other.

Other? What other? Hmm, sounds like another poll.