# Nut Butter-Filled Dates Realsy's PB&J Dates are Plant-Powered and Free from Added Sugar By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-02-10 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pbj-dates References: [bonappetit](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/snack-drop-january-2026) & [eatrealsy](https://eatrealsy.com/collections/frontpage/products/pbj-dates-snack-packs)  [Realsy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/realsy-nut-butter-dates), known for its nut butter-filled dates, launched a new [PB&J](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-bread-pbj) Dates flavor that packs decadent Medjool dates with organic strawberry powder and peanut butter for feel-good, nostalgic snacking experiences. This wholly plant-powered and gluten-free snack, packaged by the pouch, is made with just four real and recognizable ingredients, and comes packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein. According to Realsy, its simple-ingredient snack tastes like a naturally sweet version of a [popular caramel-peanut candy bar](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daddl)—but it excludes all added sugars, sugar substitutes, and seed oils, and treats snackers to a wholesome bite that's high in fiber and low-glycemic. PB&J Dates expands Realsy's nut butter-centric lineup (which includes Almond Butter Dates and Peanut Butter Dates) and appeals to fans of Chocolate Peanut Butter Dates. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.4/10 - Popularity: 83% | Activity: 74% | Freshness: 65% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Plant-powered Nostalgia Snacks:** A resurgence of familiar childhood flavors reformulated with plant-based ingredients and whole-food sweetness offers novel alternatives to traditional candy and dairy snacks. - **Clean-ingredient Indulgence:** Products that deliver indulgent textures and flavors while omitting added sugars, sugar substitutes, and seed oils create a new category of transparent, minimally processed treats. - **Nut Butter-centered Confection:** Centering nut butters as the primary flavor and texture driver in confections enables higher-protein, nutrient-dense snack formats that blur the line between candy and functional food. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Snack Food Manufacturing:** Emerging formulations using whole dates and nut butters encourage retooling of production lines to accommodate paste-filled fruits and low-moisture, clean-label confectionery. - **Retail Grocery & E-commerce:** Demand for single-serve pouches of recognizable-ingredient snacks is reshaping assortment strategies and private-label opportunities across digital and brick-and-mortar channels. - **Functional Foods & Nutrition:** Developments that combine fiber, low-glycemic sweeteners, and plant-based proteins are expanding product portfolios positioned for gut health, weight management, and sports recovery. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Candy-Coated Date Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/candy-dates.md) - [Energizing Protein-Rich Snack Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rxbar-protein-energy-bites.md) - [Energizing Golfer Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bunchies.md) - [Value-Sized Nut Butter Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nut-butter-filled-dates.md) - [Indulgent Protein Brownies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peanut-butter-chocolate-protein-brownies.md) - [Expansive Protein Energy Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/protein-energy-bites.md) - [Heritage-Driven Snack Cakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strawberry-shortcake-roll.md) - [Plant-Based Nutrition Bar Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-nutrition-bar.md) - [Seasonally Inspired Stuffed Dates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stuffed-dates-covered-in-chocolate.md)