[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.

Good luck!

 

[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 light (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.

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.

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.

as a plus, earth balance tastes absolutely delicious... in the words of my omni bf... "its like butter, but its just... better".

have a look at: http://www.earthbalance.net/ if you're interested.

 

[GhostUser]

In case you haven't been convinced yet... I suggest Earth Balance, as well.

 

[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 (http://www.suma.co.uk/products.html)

and we think it tastes very buttery.

 

[meatless]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ketivnilloc

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

according to EB's web site the products are all vegan except the natural buttery sticks, which are not "regular earth balance."

http://www.earthbalance.net/

 

[codemonkey]

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

 

[colorful]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meatless

according to EB's web site the products are all vegan except the natural buttery sticks, which are not "regular earth balance."

http://www.earthbalance.net/

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.

Whew...you scared me for a moment there! I love the buttery sticks for baking, so much easier to measure than the tub margarine!

<----- is baking vegan chocolate chip cookies right now!

 

[meatless]

Oh ok.

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.