[skulgurl95]

I've recently cut meat from my diet and am now seriously considering removing dairy as well. Over the last week I have attempted to gradually remove dairy, but am having considerable difficulty with butter. The other dairy products haven't been problematic at removing, but butter is. I gave up margarine this past summer (switching to butter) because I felt like it was unhealthy and from it seemed that butter (in moderation) would be better from a health standpoint. Does anyone have any suggestions as to alternatives? What can I use instead? I am really interested in eating healthy.

 

[bekajoi]

You can sub oils for butter in most recipes. And where you need something creamier & more solid, try vegetable shortening. There are some soy-based margerines as well, if you prefer to go that rout.<br><br><br><br>
Good luck! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Keelin]

Non-hydrogenated margarines, such as Earth Balance, are much healthier for you than butter (which is FULL of saturated fats; plus most of dairy's harmful aspects are the most concentrated in milk fats).

 

[Obladiblada]

Earth Balance is a vegan buttery spread that is very good and can be substituted for butter in recipes and whatnot. If you can't find that, the same company also makes a buttery spread called Soy Garden, which is also good, and I believe Smart Balance <i>light</i> (not the regular) margarine is also vegan, but haven't had it so can't say whether it's good or not.

 

[GhostUser]

I prefer Earth Balance over Soy Garden. Both are equally good.. but im trying to abstain from soy as much as possible.<br><br><br><br>
Oils are good.. as well coconut oil which is good for ya health.

 

[karenlovessnow]

I LOVE Earth Balance and Soy Garden. And I was a HUGE butter consumer, no margarine or butter subs back then. I tried the Smart Balance Light but I find it definitely has a 'fake' taste to it. I couldn't even use it up...I just tossed it. But that's just me. I have an omni friend who hates EB and SG but loves the SBlight....it's really personal preference and trial and error.

 

[jojob1969]

Another vote for Earth Balance. The first time I tried it I was surprised how "buttery" it tasted. It's non-hydrogenated so it's healthier than other margarines.

 

[jeneticallymodified]

i think that from a health perspective, i'd choose Earth Balance over butter- its expeller pressed from non GM oils, its non hydrogenated, it has no trans fatty acids, no preservatives, and it contains a balanced blend of natural oils patented to help improve the good to bad cholesterol ratio.<br><br><br><br>
there are quite a few products in the earth balance range, i like the natural buttery spread and the whipped spread, and while i haven't tried them yet, the natacol and shortening look really good too. i've never tried a soy margarine that i liked, but i'd give the soy garden a go if i saw it around too.<br><br><br><br>
as a plus, earth balance tastes absolutely delicious... in the words of my omni bf... "its like butter, but its just... better".<br><br><br><br>
have a look at: <a href="http://www.earthbalance.net/" target="_blank">http://www.earthbalance.net/</a> if you're interested.

 

[GhostUser]

In case you haven't been convinced yet... I suggest Earth Balance, as well. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[troub]

Olive Oil!!!!!!!!!!

 

[veggielove]

You can even buy ORGANIC smart balance - which is what I buy. It is wonderful, and natural. I used to buy smart balance light, but noticed it has a lot of preservatives in it, so its kinda fake and not healthy seeming.

 

[codemonkey]

I think earth balance tastes better than butter, and you can bake with it just like butter.

 

[eggplant]

Earth Balance! Earth Balance!

 

[Goofy]

It's great that they have come up with non-hydrogenated margarine nowadays. For a while margarine had such a bad reputation that people felt butter was the healthier choice.

 

[ketivnilloc]

no earth balance! in my area, regular earthbalance has whey, but sb light and soy garden are vegan.

 

[Spidergrrl]

I can't find EB in the UK but we use Suma (<a href="http://www.suma.co.uk/products.html" target="_blank">http://www.suma.co.uk/products.html</a>)<br><br>
and we think it tastes very buttery.

 

[meatless]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>ketivnilloc</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
no earth balance! in my area, regular earthbalance has whey, but sb light and soy garden are vegan.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> according to EB's web site the products are all vegan except the natural buttery sticks, which are not "regular earth balance."<br><br><br><br><a href="http://www.earthbalance.net/" target="_blank">http://www.earthbalance.net/</a>

 

[codemonkey]

Every tub of Earth Balance I've seen says "Vegan" right on there.

 

[colorful]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>meatless</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> according to EB's web site the products are all vegan except the natural buttery sticks, which are not "regular earth balance."<br><br><br><br><a href="http://www.earthbalance.net/" target="_blank">http://www.earthbalance.net/</a></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
It doesn't say "vegan" in the product description, but if you look closely at the picture of the box of buttery sticks, it says "100% Vegan" right on the box.<br><br><br><br>
Whew...you scared me for a moment there! I love the buttery sticks for baking, so much easier to measure than the tub margarine!<br><br><br><br>
<----- is baking vegan chocolate chip cookies right now! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/lick.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lick:">

 

[meatless]

Oh ok. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> I just went by what they said in the description. We don't get the buttery sticks here so I didn't examine the picture too closely.