When we first started our journey to eating healthier I didn't know you shouldn't eat margarine(EVER), or use vegetable and canola oils. These are marketed and presented to us as healthy oils that can help to lower things like your weight and cholesterol. When in fact science doesn't back up these claims. Oh the joys of marketing, but I wont go into great detail about these because Wellness Mama has written a great post titled "Why you should never eat vegetable oil or margarine". Please take the time to read through it. You will not be sorry you did. I've posted the link here:
So lets start with margarine, what do you use instead? Butter! Grass fed and organic is the best, because you are not getting genetically modified feed fed to the cows, nor the extra hormones and antibiotics. I personally opt for the non salted butter as well. Butter is actually really healthy for you. It raises good cholesterol, and actually lowers the risk of heart attack compared to margarine. I know some people who eat a stick of butter a day because of the health benefits.
Trust me when I say you feel a difference eating it. I highly highly recommend spending the extra money on Organic or GMO free butters. If my budget is more tight I buy the butter from Trader Joes, anything with their name on it is GMO free. I havent yet explained much about GMOs, that will be one of my next posts.
But please for your sake and your family get these out of your fridge and pantry!
I don't recall the exact day, but we threw out our vegetable/canola oil and margarine and never looked back. Fast forward two years and I don't miss it at all. What do I do in those cases it calls for vegetable or canola oil in a recipe, or cake mix? I use applesauce! True story. I have a pancake recipe I will share with you at the end that called for 1/2 a cup of vegetable oil and we just use 1/2 a cup of applesauce. It not only works as the oil substitute, but I don't have to add extra sugar to my pancakes. Win win for us!
In other recipes like dressings where it calls for oil you can use olive oil and or coconut oil instead. When cooking you shouldn't use olive oil if it exceeds 220 degrees, which is its smoke point. "Due to its chemical structure and a large amount of unsaturated fats, cooking makes extra-virgin olive oil very susceptible to oxidative damage." Link to source. So if you are like me and didn't know you shouldn't be cooking with olive oil its not to late to change.
I've found a great oil to replace it with that's newer to me. I've seen it around lately and after learning you shouldn't cook with olive oil I started looking for a better alternative. Avocado oil! It can withstand higher temperatures in cooking, and it has more monounsaturated fats than olive oil. When buying your avocado oil make sure it says cold pressed and organic, which will give you the most health benefits. It also has a delicious taste! So if you are making the switch from canola oil or olive I highly recommend avocado oil instead. Here is a link to more information and health benefits from using avocado oil.
What about my Pam?? Not to worry, I found these nifty spray cans at Costco that are basically refillable cooking spray bottles. You pour in your desired oil and pump the top a few times and then instant cooking spray. Not to mention its does not have Isobutane or Propane to help get it to spray, also making it non flammable! I say that with a high amount of sarcasm. If you do not know what an ingredient is you really shouldn't use it. Notice below that all it says is propellant, you have to go digging online to find out what exactly that propellant is. Labeling has a lot of loopholes, and maybe I'll get more into that later, but for now ask yourself if you'd like some propane with those eggs.
But seriously these are fantastic and now you know that all that's in it is your oil and air! I use mine for everything I used to use canned cooking spray for, including when I make cookies occasionally. If you don't have a Costco close to you or don't have a membership you can get them on amazon. I'll post the link below.
In other recipes like dressings where it calls for oil you can use olive oil and or coconut oil instead. When cooking you shouldn't use olive oil if it exceeds 220 degrees, which is its smoke point. "Due to its chemical structure and a large amount of unsaturated fats, cooking makes extra-virgin olive oil very susceptible to oxidative damage." Link to source. So if you are like me and didn't know you shouldn't be cooking with olive oil its not to late to change.
I've found a great oil to replace it with that's newer to me. I've seen it around lately and after learning you shouldn't cook with olive oil I started looking for a better alternative. Avocado oil! It can withstand higher temperatures in cooking, and it has more monounsaturated fats than olive oil. When buying your avocado oil make sure it says cold pressed and organic, which will give you the most health benefits. It also has a delicious taste! So if you are making the switch from canola oil or olive I highly recommend avocado oil instead. Here is a link to more information and health benefits from using avocado oil.
What about my Pam?? Not to worry, I found these nifty spray cans at Costco that are basically refillable cooking spray bottles. You pour in your desired oil and pump the top a few times and then instant cooking spray. Not to mention its does not have Isobutane or Propane to help get it to spray, also making it non flammable! I say that with a high amount of sarcasm. If you do not know what an ingredient is you really shouldn't use it. Notice below that all it says is propellant, you have to go digging online to find out what exactly that propellant is. Labeling has a lot of loopholes, and maybe I'll get more into that later, but for now ask yourself if you'd like some propane with those eggs.
But seriously these are fantastic and now you know that all that's in it is your oil and air! I use mine for everything I used to use canned cooking spray for, including when I make cookies occasionally. If you don't have a Costco close to you or don't have a membership you can get them on amazon. I'll post the link below.
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Oh coconut oil how I love you! There are soo many uses for coconut oil its just plain awesome. Not only that though it is extremely healthy for you. Here is just a portion of them.
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When we first started out I bought this big container determined to use it. I bought this at Costco for $22. This actually is one of the best deals out there, its cheaper than on the Nutiva website. Not only is this great coconut oil, but the companies standards are awesome!
Besides eating it coconut oil has a lot of other practical uses from make up remover to diaper cream. I have used it for both of those and love it! Don't be afraid to buy a big bottle, you will find ways to use it!
Here is a list someone made with over 333 uses.
http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/08/333-Uses-For-Coconut-Oil.html
Basically if you are cooking your best bets are coconut oil, animal fats like butter, and avocado oil.
As a challenge for you go and get your favorite brownie mix from the store (not healthy I know, but we're taking baby steps) and instead of using the called for vegetable oil use that same amount called for of unsweetened applesauce. This was one of my first test runs I did. Come back and let me know what you think!
If you take steps slowly to bettering your families health you will find it comes a lot easier than trying to change everything all at once. Start with something like getting all of the bad oils and fats out of your house, and switching to healthier alternatives. Your tummy will thank you!
Link for misto:
Love this post! I have been changing up my fats too and love the results. I found avocado oil at Costco that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. It doesn't have a strong taste like olive oil or coconut oil, can be heated to very high temp without turning toxic like olive oil. It is GMO free as well. It is my choice for frying food when I don't want the added coconut taste or olive oil taste. I will have to look for those oil spray bottles. Do you think they still have them?
ReplyDeleteBonnie I'm so glad to hear that! Ever since we changed I can feel a difference. I need to go and buy some avocado oil. When I started looking into it and just couldn't wait to use it! The spray bottles have been at Costco the last few times I've been there, but I will be going again on Monday so I will look and let you know. We absolutely love ours!
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