Peanuts vs Firm Tofu: How Do They Compare?
Although peanuts and firm tofu belong to different food groups, and it’s not that common to compare foods from different groups, people are often interested in these comparisons as well.
While peanuts belong to the nuts and seeds group, firm tofu belong to legumes food group.
That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares peanuts and firm tofu, their nutritional values, similarities, differences, macronutrients, and micronutrients – vitamins and minerals.
Generally speaking, foods from nuts and seeds group are usually higher in healthy fats and lower in carbs than legumes, but both are valuable addition to a plant-based diet.
Now, let’s see how peanuts and firm tofu compare specifically.
Peanuts
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are a type of legume that is native to South America and is now grown in many parts of the world.
These nuts have a slightly sweet and slightly nutty flavor, and are often used in both sweet and savory dishes.
Peanuts are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
There are many ways to incorporate peanuts into your diet.
They can be eaten raw or roasted, and are often used in baking or as a topping for salads and other dishes.
Peanuts are also available in a variety of forms, including whole, chopped, and ground into flour.
Peanuts are widely available and can be found at most grocery stores. They are often sold roasted or raw, and can be purchased with or without the shell.
If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious nut to add to your diet, consider giving peanuts a try.
They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.
Peanuts is an excellent source of Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin E.
It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).
Firm Tofu
Firm tofu, also known as regular tofu or Chinese-style tofu, is a type of tofu with a firmer, more dense texture than soft or regular tofu.
It is made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the curds into blocks, with the addition of weight or pressure to remove excess moisture.
Firm tofu has a pale, beige color and a slightly nutty flavor, and is a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes.
It can be used in a variety of dishes, including stir-fries, soups, and sandwiches, and can also be grilled, fried, or baked.
In addition to being a tasty and versatile food, firm tofu is a good source of protein, fiber, and several important nutrients, including iron, potassium, and B vitamins.
It has been shown to have a number of potential health benefits, including lower cholesterol levels and improved blood sugar control.
Firm Tofu is not an excellent source of any particular vitamin.
However, it also contains a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and some Vitamin A, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).
Peanuts vs Firm Tofu Nutrition
Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing peanuts vs firm tofu.
This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of peanuts and firm tofu and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.
Peanuts | Firm Tofu | |
---|---|---|
Energy | 587 kcal | 144 kcal |
Carbs | 21.26 g | 2.78 g |
Sugar | 4.9 g | 0.7 g |
Fiber | 8.4 g | 2.3 g |
Protein | 24.35 g | 17.3 g |
Fat | 49.66 g | 8.72 g |
Saturated Fat | 7.723 g | 1.26 g |
Peanuts vs Firm Tofu Calories
Comparing firm tofu vs peanuts for weight loss, firm tofu is slightly lower in calories, with 144 calories per 100 grams, compared to 587 calories per 100 grams of peanuts.
However, both peanuts and firm tofu can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight.
Peanuts vs Firm Tofu Protein
Legumes and most legume products, including peanuts and firm tofu, are important sources of plant-based protein.
Peanuts offers around 29% more protein than firm tofu.
Peanuts has 24.4 grams of protein per 100 grams, while firm tofu has 17.3 grams of protein per 100 grams.
Peanuts vs Firm Tofu Carbs
Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.
It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in peanuts and firm tofu.
The total amount of carbohydrates is around 87% higher in peanuts than in firm tofu. It have 21.3 grams per 100 grams, compared to 2.8 grams in firm tofu.
There’s less sugar in firm tofu than in peanuts, 86% precisely.
One handful of firm tofu (28 grams) contains 0.2 grams of sugar, while the same amount of peanuts contains 1.4 grams.
Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in peanuts and firm tofu.
Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.
With 2.4 grams of fiber per portion, peanuts is a better source of fiber than firm tofu which peanuts offers 0.6 grams per portion.
Peanuts vs Firm Tofu Fats
Fats in peanuts and firm tofu are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.
Total fat in peanuts and firm tofu:
- Peanuts: 49.7 grams per 100 grams
- Firm Tofu: 8.7 per 100 grams
Speaking of saturated fats, firm tofu is 83% lower in saturated fats.
Firm Tofu and peanuts contain 1.3 grams and 7.7 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.
Peanuts vs Firm Tofu Vitamins Content
This section will discuss the vitamin content of peanuts and firm tofu.
Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.
Peanuts has a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), and vitamin K.
However, firm tofu has a higher amount of vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), vitamin B9 (Folate), and vitamin E.
Peanuts and firm tofu contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).
The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins peanuts and firm tofu contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.
Peanuts | Firm Tofu | |
---|---|---|
Vitamin A | 0 | 166 IU |
Vitamin C | 0 | 0.2 mg |
Vitamin D | 0 | 0 |
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.152 mg | 0.158 mg |
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.197 mg | 0.102 mg |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 14.355 mg | 0.381 mg |
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) | 1.011 mg | 0.133 mg |
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) | 0.466 mg | 0.092 mg |
Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 97 µg | 29 µg |
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | 0 | 0 |
Vitamin E | 4.93 mg | 0.01 mg |
Vitamin K | 0 | 2 µg |
Peanuts vs Firm Tofu Minerals Content
Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.
Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the peanuts and firm tofu comparison focuses on their mineral content.
Peanuts is a better source of calcium, iron, selenium, and sodium than firm tofu.
On the other hand, firm tofu is a higher amount of copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.
Peanuts and firm tofu contain the same amount of fluoride.
Check out the table below to learn how peanuts and firm tofu compare when it comes to mineral content.
Peanuts | Firm Tofu | |
---|---|---|
Calcium | 58 mg | 683 mg |
Copper | 0.428 mg | 0.378 mg |
Fluoride | 0 | 0 |
Iron | 1.58 mg | 2.66 mg |
Magnesium | 178 mg | 58 mg |
Manganese | 1.786 mg | 1.18 mg |
Phosphorus | 363 mg | 190 mg |
Potassium | 634 mg | 237 mg |
Selenium | 9.3 µg | 17.4 µg |
Sodium | 6 mg | 14 mg |
Zinc | 2.77 mg | 1.57 mg |
The Final Word
Peanuts and firm tofu are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.
Both peanuts and firm tofu are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.
Antioxidants found in nuts, seeds and legumes can help to protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of certain diseases and the effects of aging.
Additionally, the fiber and other nutrients in these foods can support the health of the digestive system and may even help to prevent certain digestive cancers.
Legumes, nuts and seeds are a versatile food that can be incorporated into any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They can be served hot or cold, making them a convenient and tasty addition to a variety of dishes.
Holy Peas has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals, associations and government institutions. Read more about our process.
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Listing of vitamins, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/listing_of_vitamins/
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Nutrient Recommendations: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Sciences Engineering, and Medicine
https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/nutrientrecommendations.aspx
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Protein And Amino Acid Requirements In Human Nutrition, WHO
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