We've been eating Smart Balance buttery spread with extra virgin olive oil. Am really confused by what we should and should not be eating. This has palm fruit oil along with a lot of other ingredients. Is it wiser to eat butter, which has only pasteruized cream and natural flavorings, or Smart Balance which has an extended list of ingredients? Thank you.
Dr. Gourmet Says...
Choosing what fat to use can be a challenge, but first and foremost it's important to not get too stressed about it. I love butter and I love olive oil and I think that spreads are OK.
I keep spreads like Smart Balance or Promise Buttery Spread on hand but don't use them very often. That said, I am cautious in my use of any fat, whether it's butter, spread, olive oil or bacon. For instance, I use spreads for baking muffins and such and will use Smart Balance Light on my pancakes. I don't spread fat on my bread generally, and when I do use fat on my bread I might dip it in great quality olive oil.
So, it's OK to use spreads every now and then, and olive oil carefully, and great quality butter. Like with all ingredients, too much of a good thing is just that, too much.
Thanks for writing,
Timothy S. Harlan, M.D.
Dr. Gourmet