Ok calorie counters, I need your help. I like eating eggs in the morning and have been eating them poached. However, I just found some low-calorie sourdough bread and really want to make an egg in a basket.
The only problem is the butter substitute for grilling bread or eggs. I hate the chemical taste of PAM. And I refuse to buy margarine because of the chemicals in it. As a family, we really try to eat natural foods that are made with whole ingredients and no chemicals.
What suggestions do you have? I also make grilled cheese with low-fat cheese for my family some nights for dinner but I haven't wanted to because of the butter issue. This morning I used 1 1/2 Tbsp of unsalted butter and it worked. I counted the calories but I don't like relying on butter.
Ideas? Help?
Last edited by LaughingGirl78; 08-02-2012 at 03:46 PM.
Instead of PAM, you can buy a spray bottle for oil and use olive oil or whatever oil you prefer. I would think you could probably get away with more like 1 tsp of butter if the pan was non-stick or well seasoned and you melted it in the pan rather than spreading in on the bread.
Why don't you like relying on butter - what are you looking for in a substitute?
If it's just the calories, you can try using less butter. I can cook 2 fried eggs in a nonstick pan in less than 1 tsp of butter (or ghee, clarified butter) and it works fine and gives a nice buttery taste, for about 30 calories. Totally worth it.
If it's the saturated fat or something, you can try using olive oil.
Without knowing what it is that makes you reluctant to use butter, though, it's hard to offer suggestions.
Like others have said getting in some real butter is fine (sometimes we need a bit more fat in our diet). However, when I am keeping my calories at a lower level (I zigzag between 1100-1600), I use the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray (not spread). I find it tastes pretty good on veggies and wheat toast.
I make my eggs in 1/4 t. of extra virgin olive oil. Taste way better than butter, as least I like it better than butter. I have a small egg pan that I use and cover with lid to make my fried egg.
Thanks for the info. I am not avoiding dairy, I was just concerned about using a fat. But after reading your feedback, I think I will just use less butter like suggested or a mister of olive oil.
I more concerned that it was unhealthy to use butter at all. But I think a small amount, every once in a while should be fine.
They have great sprayer bottle you can buy (seen at target and bed bath and beyond and amazon) for olive oil that releases it in a mist. Gives same coverage as PAM with no chemicals and no aersol pollution like pam cans make.
What is substitute butter? In general, I would venture to say that a real food (eg. butter) is better than some chemically reconstituted food-like product. In absolute calorie terms, that might just mean using far less of the butter or olive oil or whatever real food fat you prefer.
I read a book awhile back, I forget the name, but it said margarine is like melted plastic in our bodies and one of the unhealthiest things you can eat. They say it's ok to eat a little butter, better if you are eating some vegetables with it because the butter helps the body absorb the vitamins from veggies.
Butter Substitute
