To butter or not to butter...

wannakimmy
wannakimmy Posts: 488 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Is there a healthy substitute for real butter? I've always used real butter, love the taste of it I suppose. It's just quite high in calories, anyone have any ideas on a healthy/tasty substitution?
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Replies

  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    Butter is healthy. Keep using it if you can fit it in.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    I second real butter. It is delicious. Log it and fit it in where you can. I love asparagus sautéed in real butter.
  • daphnec1994
    daphnec1994 Posts: 71 Member
    i agree with the others. measure and log in and it will be no problem
  • togmo
    togmo Posts: 257
    It depends on what you are doing but I wouldn't be substituting something artificial for the real thing to try and cut back on a few healthy calories.

    I often substitute about half the butter for some yoghurt or peanut butter in cookies or cakes to reduce the calories without sacrificing the taste.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Butter. Use less if possible but butter.
  • alfiedn
    alfiedn Posts: 425 Member
    In some cases I use oil instead. I'm not sure it's that many fewer calories, but I'm always happier eating the real thing. You do have to be careful about how you use it. You're not going to be able to eat a stick a day or anything, but a tablespoon won't hurt you too much.
  • Summer5555
    Summer5555 Posts: 104 Member
    Absolutely butter, as the others have said, it makes everything taste much better. Admittedly though, I used to smother my toast in butter and then go back for more so now I very rarely have toast. Just use it wisely and fit it in when you use it.
  • SapiensPisces
    SapiensPisces Posts: 992 Member
    I use margarine for spreads on bread, etc. but I use real butter for cooking, sauces, etc. Nothing really replaces butter IMO. Just use portion control and measure.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I use margarine for spreads on bread, etc. but I use real butter for cooking, sauces, etc. Nothing really replaces butter IMO. Just use portion control and measure.

    Have you tried spreadable butters? It's butter mixed with either olive oil or canola oil to make it spreadable straight out of the fridge.
  • kaseysospacey
    kaseysospacey Posts: 499 Member
    real butter and coconut butter/oil are real foods, the other stuff youre going to think of (like margerines) arent. I stick to real foods as much as possible
  • krazyforyou
    krazyforyou Posts: 1,428 Member
    Butter is a healthy fat, use it and log it and all will be well, especially your food.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Butter is good for you! I weigh it out by the gram, and it takes surprisingly little to add a lot of flavor to things that require it. :smile:
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    I use butter.

    It tastes good.

    I also find I can use less of the real thing and be happier then using more of a substitution.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    Butter's great. I use butter. But I've been enjoying my most recent loaf of homemade bread (a part whole wheat loaf with walnuts and dried fruit) toasted with a big schmear of greek yogurt -- as thick as I used to spread cream cheese on a bagel in my calories-carefree youth. Mmmm. Plus a little boost of protein.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Butter, unless garlic, salt and olive oil will do the job better.
  • handyandy9x
    handyandy9x Posts: 93 Member
    butter for cooking and toast.. avocado for sandwiches...
  • tuckerrj
    tuckerrj Posts: 1,453 Member
    Yeah, yeah, I get it. Butter is natural, healthy and acceptable when used in moderation. But that's not what was asked. I've found that butter flavored cooking spray works well on toast, when cooking and even on popcorn, and has WAY less calories. The Crisco one we use actually tastes (somewhat) like butter.
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    Yeah, yeah, I get it. Butter is natural, healthy and acceptable when used in moderation. But that's not what was asked. I've found that butter flavored cooking spray works well on toast, when cooking and even on popcorn, and has WAY less calories. The Crisco one we use actually tastes (somewhat) like butter.
    It's the same amount of calories -- look at the ingredients -- it's oil. They just use labeling loopholes and impossible serving sizes to trick you. Use butter.

    pam.gif
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    Yeah, yeah, I get it. Butter is natural, healthy and acceptable when used in moderation. But that's not what was asked. I've found that butter flavored cooking spray works well on toast, when cooking and even on popcorn, and has WAY less calories. The Crisco one we use actually tastes (somewhat) like butter.

    Airborne butter/butter flavor is toxic (diacetyl)
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I kind of do both. I cook with butter, not butter alternatives. But for toast and stuff like that I use Smart Balace light, has a little bit less saturated fats than normal butter and some good healthy fats from flax seed oil and sunflower oil....except for garlic toast or herbed butters, then I use normal butter for those as well.
  • jayjay12345654321
    jayjay12345654321 Posts: 653 Member
    My daughter likes the Smart Balance butter spray on her pasta found in the refrigerated aisle. It has 0 cals.
  • breezy300
    breezy300 Posts: 10
    I avoid all the chemical-laden crap. Real butter is excellent for you, but look for pastured, grass-fed organic butter. It's more expensive but so much healthier than eating butter made from cows that were fed a bunch of hormones, antibiotics and other unhealthy things. I've even read that butter from countries like Ireland is best because the grass there isn't as devoid of nutrients as the grass in the US.

    This is a good article about the best kinds of butter:

    http://www.foodrenegade.com/where-find-butter-from-grassfed-cows/
  • kiittenforever
    kiittenforever Posts: 478 Member
    Olive oil for cooking or pam spray
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    PlugraSalted8oz.jpg

    Carry on...
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    PlugraSalted8oz.jpg

    Carry on...

    I wanna try that fried.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Is there a healthy substitute for real butter? I've always used real butter, love the taste of it I suppose. It's just quite high in calories, anyone have any ideas on a healthy/tasty substitution?

    Hm, you do realize it has fewer calories than olive oil when compared tbs to tbs.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,223 Member
    Yeah, yeah, I get it. Butter is natural, healthy and acceptable when used in moderation. But that's not what was asked. I've found that butter flavored cooking spray works well on toast, when cooking and even on popcorn, and has WAY less calories. The Crisco one we use actually tastes (somewhat) like butter.

    Airborne butter/butter flavor is toxic (diacetyl)
    lol.
  • stuffinmuffin
    stuffinmuffin Posts: 985 Member
    So good to see so many people defending butter!!!! : )

    I too agree - real 100% butter all the way. You can't fry an omelette in anything else!

    In regard to oils....be careful, try and get cold press oils where possible ...AND if you really want to look into the grim science of mass-produced fat, check out the term; 'interestification' That ended it for me.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Butter is not as high in calories (relatively speaking) as people think. One serving is 100 cals and 11 grams of fat. In can definitely be incorporated into a healthy diet.

    Dinner tonight...

    Tilapia, tomatoes, lemon and....BUTTER! I may even put some on my sweet potato, too. :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Yeah, yeah, I get it. Butter is natural, healthy and acceptable when used in moderation. But that's not what was asked. I've found that butter flavored cooking spray works well on toast, when cooking and even on popcorn, and has WAY less calories. The Crisco one we use actually tastes (somewhat) like butter.

    NOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    sorry I can't imagine...:sick:

    cooking spray on toast...ah hello watery soggy toast..

    I use butter..nom nom butter.

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