By Max Knoblauch, SWNS

With National Peanut Butter and Jelly day today upon us, now is as good a time as ever to settle an ages old score: smooth peanut butter, or crunchy peanut butter?

Well, in a sheer numbers game, it would appear that smooth has crunchy beat – 49 percent of Americans prefer their peanut butter smooth, while 29 percent want theirs as crunchy as possible (and the rest have no preference), according to new research.

A new study settling the big debates around peanut butter also revealed the differences between smooth and crunchy people.

Smooth peanut butter eaters self-reported as being more introverted, while crunchy peanut butter eaters tend to be more extroverted.

The new study of 2,000 American peanut butter eaters found that for all their differences, peanut butter eaters agree on at least one thing: their peanut butter eating method. 63 percent of respondents say their ideal way to eat their peanut butter is right out of the jar with a spoon.

Both sets of peanut butter consumers eat their spoon of nutty deliciousness – crunchy or not – about 3 times a week. That’s about 156 spoon dates with a jar of peanut butter a year. One in three Americans eat a spoonful as much as five times a week.

The new survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the natural food brand Peanut Butter & Co., found that those who prefer smooth peanut butter arrive earlier to work than their crunchy counterparts.

That being said, crunchy peanut butter eaters are more likely to fall in love when they arrive – as they’re 12 percent more likely to believe in love at first sight.

Keep an eye out for crunchy peanut butter in a love interest’s pantry – it’s apparently a sign of a true romantic.

Love isn’t the only thing crunchy eaters are open to – 67 percent are willing to eat smooth peanut butter every once in a while. On the other hand, 41 percent of smooth peanut butter eaters said they would never eat crunchy.

The last time the average smooth peanut butter reports trying crunchy? Six months ago. Clearly, the split is a serious one.

Crunchy peanut butter fans are more likely to have skydived, ran a marathon, and filed their taxes late.

While smooth peanut butter stalwarts have booked more spontaneous trips, gotten more speeding tickets, and bailed on more plans last minute.

The ideal Saturday night – beyond chowing down on some peanut butter – is another difference point for the two peanut butter types. Smooth peanut butter eaters outnumber crunchy in preferring to stay in and watch movies and television, while crunchy eaters outnumber smooth in wanting to go out to a bar and party.

The Big Bang Theory nabbed the top spot of favorite show for smooth peanut butter eaters, while crunchy eaters prefer less laughs and more blood – Game of Thrones was their show of choice.

“We think that the time has come to end the battle between smooth and crunchy peanut butter. Despite their differences in taste in music, views on love, and what they like to do on a Saturday night, there’s something both sides can agree on,” said Lee Zalben, Founder & CEO of Peanut Butter & Co. “When they get a craving for peanut butter, their favorite way to eat it is to just grab a spoon!”

Smooth or crunchy, there’s something to be said for being the type to grab a spoon and chomp down on a massive scoop of peanut butter: those who do it often are almost 20 percent happier than both types of peanut butter fans.

Compared to those who never eat peanut butter with a spoon, regular spoon eaters were about 62 percent more likely to report taking risks in their work and personal life.

Perhaps standing in your kitchen with a spoonful of peanut butter is a power pose of sorts – those who regularly eat peanut butter with a spoon were 31 percent more likely to self-report as “very confident.”

“Americans have been looking at the wrong peanut butter debate all along,” said Zalben. “It doesn’t matter if you prefer smooth or crunchy – the real difference is that people who regularly enjoy a heaping spoonful of peanut butter as a snack are generally happier, more adventurous, and more confident people.”

PROFILE: CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER EATERS
More extroverted
Take more risks in their personal and work life
More likely to lean in to confrontation
More likely to arrive to work late
More likely to prefer going out on a Saturday night
More satisfied in love life
Believe more in love at first sight
More goal oriented
Prefer Game of Thrones
More likely to have been skydiving
Run more marathons
Compete in more chess tournaments
More likely to file taxes late
More confident
Eat peanut butter with a spoon four times a week

PROFILE: SMOOTH PEANUT BUTTER EATERS
More introverted
Take less risks in their personal and work life
More likely to avoid confrontation
More likely to arrive to work early
More likely to prefer staying in on a Saturday night
More likely to be dissatisfied in relationship
More likely to be rational with love
Stressed out more easily
Prefer Big Bang Theory
Get more speeding tickets
More likely to book a spontaneous trip and leave the same day
More likely to bail on plans
More hesitant
Eat peanut butter with a spoon three times a week

PROFILE: PEANUT BUTTER ON A SPOON EATERS

Prefers their peanut butter in the morning
More extroverted
Takes more risks in their personal and work life
More likely to arrive to work early
Happier than those who don’t use a spoon
Prefer to stay in on a Saturday night
More likely to be satisfied with love life
More goal oriented
Prefer Game of Thrones
Prefer pop music
More likely to book a spontaneous trip and leave the same day
More likely to run a marathon
Travels internationally more
More likely to go to music festivals
Eat peanut butter with a spoon five times a week