Butter Substitute?

rschmmidt

I am a big fan of Land o'Lakes sweet cream salted butter. Of all the adjustments I've made toward a more healthier lifestyle, I just can't seem to get myself to not cook with real butter. I just think that real butter tastes better.

So, could anyone please recommend which butter substitute is the most like real butter but is lower in calories and fat?
What do you all use? Thanks!

mmapags

No recomendations on a substitute. Can't really see why you'd want one. What wrong with butter? It give foods great flavor, is a fairly healthy fat that resists oxidation in your bloodstream and is helpful in forming High Density Lipids, the "good" cholesterol and is not more calorie dense than most other fats. If you enjoy butter, then go for it as part of your overall diet plan. Almost all of the substitutes are processed in some way and contain partialy hydrogenated oil, fully hydrogenated oil or transfats. Very damaging to your health. I'd just stick with good ol' butter and some Olive Oil sometimes or some sesame oil if you're cooking oriental!

rschmmidt

Wow! Thanks for that - good to know. As long as I kept the amount low, I wasn't thinking it was a problem either. I really appreciate your input.

luvmybaby333

I agree with the previous poster. There really is no need for a substitute. You aren't going to save many (if any) calories, and most butter alternatives are way worse for you than the real thing. Fats aren't necessarily the boogieman that they have been made out to be. If you like butter, then have it. (In moderation.) Olive oil and coconut oil are also great choices.

I grew up eating Country Crock, and all that time I really was under the impression that it was "healthier" for you than regular butter. I couldn't even eat regular butter because it tasted weird to me. Then I started learning more about the differences between real foods and highly manufactured products. I slowly switched to using real butter. Now if I eat margarine I can practically taste the chemicals. It's really gross. Another bonus is that since real butter is pretty expensive, you're likely to use less of it. (Well, this was a bonus back before I started counting calories. Now I'm more likely to use less of it simply because I don't want it to take up too much of my daily calorie budget. LOL.)

shamr0ck

Butter is good, just don't go overboard with it. I also use coconut oil. It's got a great flavor, and adds moistness to baked goods.

ishallnotwant

No recomendations on a substitute. Can't really see why you'd want one. What wrong with butter? It give foods great flavor, is a fairly healthy fat that resists oxidation in your bloodstream and is helpful in forming High Density Lipids, the "good" cholesterol and is not more calorie dense than most other fats. If you enjoy butter, then go for it as part of your overall diet plan. Almost all of the substitutes are processed in some way and contain partialy hydrogenated oil, fully hydrogenated oil or transfats. Very damaging to your health. I'd just stick with good ol' butter and some Olive Oil sometimes or some sesame oil if you're cooking oriental!

+1

cloud2011

I sometimes use Smart Balance. It depends on what I'm cooking. If it's adding butter to rice, I might use that. If I'm making grilled cheese, I'll use a pat of butter. Other times, I'll use the Smart Balance.

I like it, it tastes fine to me. I think it has an olive oil base, I'm not sure.

rpantusa

I cook with I can't belive its not butter spray! It is in a yellow bottle with the butter, and i get it at walmart or any grocery store. tastes just like butter, with 0 fat and 0 caloreis. I put it on all veggies, and use it to cook! It is so wonderful! def check it out!

HauteP1nk

Butter in moderation is okay...and I agree, it adds some extra flavor.

Plus, anything that is real is better than substitutes that use who knows what to give you that 'butter' flavor...

momof8munchkins

Real butter is a healthy fat stay way from the butter subs- they are nothign more than chemicals and bads fats... I can't eat dairy other than raw which is hard to come by where I live . so I use evoo, coconut oil and palm oils..

aweightymatter

No recomendations on a substitute. Can't really see why you'd want one. What wrong with butter? It give foods great flavor, is a fairly healthy fat that resists oxidation in your bloodstream and is helpful in forming High Density Lipids, the "good" cholesterol and is not more calorie dense than most other fats. If you enjoy butter, then go for it as part of your overall diet plan. Almost all of the substitutes are processed in some way and contain partialy hydrogenated oil, fully hydrogenated oil or transfats. Very damaging to your health. I'd just stick with good ol' butter and some Olive Oil sometimes or some sesame oil if you're cooking oriental!

+1

Yep, this! Real food (butter=cream, maybe salt) > chemical tubs/sprays. Just use portion control The extra bit of natural fat will make your food extra satisfying and satiating.

GlassslippersAndFairyDust

No recomendations on a substitute. Can't really see why you'd want one. What wrong with butter? It give foods great flavor, is a fairly healthy fat that resists oxidation in your bloodstream and is helpful in forming High Density Lipids, the "good" cholesterol and is not more calorie dense than most other fats. If you enjoy butter, then go for it as part of your overall diet plan. Almost all of the substitutes are processed in some way and contain partialy hydrogenated oil, fully hydrogenated oil or transfats. Very damaging to your health. I'd just stick with good ol' butter and some Olive Oil sometimes or some sesame oil if you're cooking oriental!

^^^^ This. I'd rather use smaller amounts of the "real" things in life than eat things that claim to be "healthier" for you but are often filled with chemicals.....Just my own take on it. :flowerforyou:

Emilia6909

Mmmmmmm Butter...... the secret ingredient to LIFE!!

tbresina

No recomendations on a substitute. Can't really see why you'd want one. What wrong with butter? It give foods great flavor, is a fairly healthy fat that resists oxidation in your bloodstream and is helpful in forming High Density Lipids, the "good" cholesterol and is not more calorie dense than most other fats. If you enjoy butter, then go for it as part of your overall diet plan. Almost all of the substitutes are processed in some way and contain partialy hydrogenated oil, fully hydrogenated oil or transfats. Very damaging to your health. I'd just stick with good ol' butter and some Olive Oil sometimes or some sesame oil if you're cooking oriental!

For people with high colesterol I highly recommend cardio choice light from Walmart. I had very high cholesterol (which is weird for a vegetarian ) and md wanted to put me on meds......to which I said Hell No. I changed a few small things, and I went from 249 to 203 (cholesterol) in 6 months by diet and exercise alone! Cardio Choice contains flax and omega 3's......it is very good for you!

Rilke

I cook with I can't belive its not butter spray! It is in a yellow bottle with the butter, and i get it at walmart or any grocery store. tastes just like butter, with 0 fat and 0 caloreis. I put it on all veggies, and use it to cook! It is so wonderful! def check it out!

http://www.feedmeimcranky.com/2011/01/15/lies-damned-lies-butter-sprays/

Emilia6909

On a more serious note.... In my opinion, there is no
substitute, BUT.... I make avocado butter which is DELICIOUS! Mashed avo with salt & pepper. Works like a treat and tastes delicious.... but hold back when you're baking!! Butter only for that ! :bigsmile:

99clmsntgr

The only thing I would recommend is maybe to go with the unsalted butter.

I am mildly embarrassed to say we have brummel and brown's in the house, which, while claiming to be yogurt based, is still oil based, including the partially hydrogenated oils that the other top offenders use. Maybe that will get replaced next time we run to the store.

lipglossjunky73

Earth balance..... It's nondairy but no trans fats like margarine..... It's excellent!!!! We get the tubs.

tricia19444

We went to all butter in our house to get ride of the chemicals and additives.

Using a butter bell was a great discovery to help make it easier to use with toast and such.

I have been on the search for a local dairy that makes butter. Even our local milk dairies sell mass produced butter in their stores.

ishallnotwant

We went to all butter in our house to get ride of the chemicals and additives.

Using a butter bell was a great discovery to help make it easier to use with toast and such.

I have been on the search for a local dairy that makes butter. Even our local milk dairies sell mass produced butter in their stores.

If you purchase heavy cream from your local dairy it is very easy to make your own butter. :flowerforyou:

Sierra_419

i like land o lakes butter made with canola oil .. i believe its 50 calories for a tablespoon ..

tricia19444

I cook with I can't belive its not butter spray! It is in a yellow bottle with the butter, and i get it at walmart or any grocery store. tastes just like butter, with 0 fat and 0 caloreis. I put it on all veggies, and use it to cook! It is so wonderful! def check it out!

http://www.feedmeimcranky.com/2011/01/15/lies-damned-lies-butter-sprays/

THANK YOU for posting that link!!!

Rilke

i like land o lakes butter made with canola oil .. i believe its 50 calories for a tablespoon ..

Why would one use this over unmolested butter?

Mochi915

Brummel yogurt butter is GREAT! Best part? It's spreadable even when it's cold!!!

ShawtyLatina

Earth balance..... It's nondairy but no trans fats like margarine..... It's excellent!!!! We get the tubs.

Bump.

I use the whipped version as a topping cuz the air gives more volume for less calories, and the regular version for cooking and baking. I'm a total earth balance devotee. Even had my nutrionist make the switch after he discovered it on my food journal.

tricia19444

We went to all butter in our house to get ride of the chemicals and additives.

Using a butter bell was a great discovery to help make it easier to use with toast and such.

I have been on the search for a local dairy that makes butter. Even our local milk dairies sell mass produced butter in their stores.

If you purchase heavy cream from your local dairy it is very easy to make your own butter. :flowerforyou:

WAIT! WHAT? HOW??? Sending you a friend request...

glenbabe

olive oil is the best thing generally for your health....but butter will do no harm in moderation and to add flavour to certain recipes occasionally is fine

taliesyn_

I think others have already voted overwhelmingly for butter here and I agree - why change it? Particularly if the alternative might be some kind of processed chemical cocktail. So many companies try to sell us products based on a "science must be better than natural" mantra. Newsflash: it isn't.

c3js80

Welcome to PA from here in Berks County. What is a butter bell??

Rilke

I cook with I can't belive its not butter spray! It is in a yellow bottle with the butter, and i get it at walmart or any grocery store. tastes just like butter, with 0 fat and 0 caloreis. I put it on all veggies, and use it to cook! It is so wonderful! def check it out!

http://www.feedmeimcranky.com/2011/01/15/lies-damned-lies-butter-sprays/

THANK YOU for posting that link!!!

Important stuff there. I don't agree with the criticism of butter, but the information about the sprays needs to be common knowledge.

cowgirlslikeus86

I try not to cook with anything. If I need butter on something for taste I use zero calorie "I can't believe it's not butter" spray.
If I need to fry something I will try to bake it instead i.e. Fish, poultry, steak. and not use anything.
If I truly need to wet the pan I will use olive oil.
I find that when I use butter, I always need way more of it then I can afford in my calorie count.