Looking For An Alternative To Butter? Try These Spreads Instead

Butter offers a creamy texture and delivers plenty of flavor, whether you’re spreading it on toast or melting a dab of it on a pile of noodles. However, you can get the same fluffy, rich texture without using butter at all. Not only does butter have a high fat content, some commercial varieties contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Conventionally raised cows are sometimes fed GMO corn and soy, with additional sugar from GMO sugar beets and cottonseed – a toxic crop. Other butters are made using artificial ingredients such as petroleum and preservatives. Instead, try one of these healthy and eco-friendly butter alternatives:

Avocado
You can get the same creamy texture of butter by mashing up an avocado. This spread is rich in monounsaturated fats, has anti-inflammatory properties, helps regulate blood sugar levels and even promotes good heart health. If you plan on using avocado when baking, substitute about half the amount of butter for mashed avocado. This will produce tasty treats with a soft, chewy texture and a lower calorie count. In fact, avocados have about 300 fewer calories than butter for every quarter-cup serving. Avocado also has less saturated fat and cholesterol than its counterpart. Discover other ways to use this creamy green fruit by enrolling in culinary school online.

Hummus
Hummus is a Mediterranean spread traditionally used for dipping veggies and chips. However, hummus can be used as a healthy alternative to butter. This dip is commonly made from ground chickpeas, sesame seeds, olive oil, lemon and garlic. Choose from several different varieties to find a taste that suits you.

Olive oil
Instead of reaching for a commercial spread to put on your dinner roll, consider using olive oil. It gives your bread lots of flavor and comes with healthy monounsaturated fats as well as vitamin E. When searching for the perfect olive oil at the supermarket, look for domestic varieties, which are delicious, relatively affordable and eco-friendly. They’re also fresher than imported oils and offer more complex flavors. Consider using domestic oils instead of butter when it comes to cooking and baking as well.

Fruit puree
If you start off every morning spreading butter on your toast, you may want to try a fruit puree instead. You can create a thick, creamy spread using anything from apples and grapes to mangos and pears. Purees pack a punch when it comes to taste, and they also have less fat than butter. Fruit purees can also be used as a replacement for butter in your cooking. Use the puree for about two-thirds of the total amount of butter used in your baked goods. For every 1/2 cup of butter, use 5 tablespoons puree.