If you are evaluating butter vs. no butter, obviously the benefits skew towards no butter. But if you are evaluating butter vs. other options, I personally (for me) believe that real food always outweighs anything chemically processed.
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As I said, we all do make our own choices based on our own goals and belief although there are options that aren't chemically processed, like earth balance and ingredients are all natural and easily pronounced. As I said previously though, I really don't think butter (or butter substitutes) are necessary but those are my own choices/beliefs/preference/etc.
As I said, we all do make our own choices based on our own goals and belief although there are options that aren't chemically processed, like earth balance and ingredients are all natural and easily pronounced.
QFT. That's what I was trying to say too. Some of us do not believe in using dairy products. Some of us do not believe in using chemicals or chemically altered products. Some of us do not believe in using things high in saturated fat. Everyone does what works for them - and if you were to ask the 'experts', they would be as diverse in their answers as we have been.
Butter != controversy. Do what works for you and your body.
Dang. I didn't know so many had such strong feelings about this.
Of course it's more a question of real and bad and fake and not as bad.
I have made my own butter. It's a fun activity I learned in girls camp a few years back. My DF and I make our own butter ever so often mostly for parties and gatherings. (Like christmas and thanksgiving or a fancy dinner)
I think I'll stick with my real butter. I'm not picky about how much fat it may have as long as it's under my daily calorie count. And I only have it maybe once a week on a bake potato or melted in the pot of veggies. And for another thing, it's real. I mean it's something that's been around for a very long time. Cream+jar+20 minutes=butter.
in recipies i've always used the fake butter. I haven't baked much after going to the real thing. Has anyone noticed a difference between using real and fake butter in their cookies or cakes?
I personally notice a difference in baking. But I have started using other things in my baking ... applesauce, pureed beans, etc. Brownies with pureed black beans are pretty darned good.
If I were to make something for a special treat - especially something like choc. chip cookies - I'd use real butter.
And I do make my own butter around Christmas and Thanksgiving. I like to use a butter mold and make pretty shapes. But then I"m a bit of a food geek!
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Last edited by PhotoChick; 07-02-2008 at 10:34 PM.
You milk a cow and shake that liquid around in a jar for 5ish minutes and you get butter.
How is that not natural?
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It may be "natural" in that it occurs in the environment, but many things occur in the environment that aren't the best things for us to consume. Cow's MILK may be natural food for baby cows, but BUTTER is a human-created product.
I don't subscribe to the "dairy is bad for you becuase it's made for baby cows" mindset. I know a lot of people think human beings shouldn't consume dairy products (from any animal, cow, sheep, goat, whatever) but I disagree.
Those going for the lowest calories, regardless of level of processed ingredients, or the lowest fat grams, or low cholesterol, can find margarines that meet their dietary requirements. I use a reduced calorie, trans fat free margarine, except in baking, when I typically use butter.
Those who prefer to eat all whole foods would probably choose butter, because it is less processed and is made of whole foods ingredients.
"Which is better" is then as futile as asking "Which plan is best?". Everyone has to use their own health priorities to determine their choice.
I think this is turning (or has turned) into a vegan/vegetarian vs. carnivore/omnivore thread
I know from other forums that nothing will be resolved in this "discussion".
The original question was about butter vs. fake butter, not whether we should even consume butter
I think I would disagree with your assessment. I think we have seen people from various beliefs. Even though I choose not consume dairy, I think a lot of people consider added fat options by various factors. There are 'healthy' fats and 'unhealthy' fats. Butter does have a lot of the unhealthy fats. Although I think from this discussion, we can see various people make their choices by other factors.
(and I would say that one of the best fake butter options just happens to be a vegan fake-butter but I can't say it is the best because they aren't things I've evaluated)
The only ingredients in butter are cream and salt, and it is possible to get unsalted butter, it is readily available. I use butter but I try not to overdo it. I count calories so I remember to count the calories in butter when I use it. On the other hand I do not put sugar or sugar substitutes on my cereal. It all balances out.l
