various grocery store thoughts

[DorothyB]

First, I had a Michael Angelos "natural" eggplant parmesan dinner at work yesterday. This is NOT the one sold in the grocery store - it has a curved banner across the top that has 3 words - 2 of which are natural and italian. It has less fat and costs a LOT more. I got it at Whole Foods (health food store). I've had other frozen eggplant parmesan dinners and never really liked them. This one was GREAT!! I'll be getting more of them!

This morning I went to the grocery store. I'm trying to lose weight, but also balance that with healthier eating. That means I'm reading more labels.

Since fat is the thing I have a hard time keeping under control, I decided to try switching from 2% to non-fat milk. I've been drinking a brand that is from Jerseys who are not fed any hormones. I'm trying MaryAnn's organic brand now - Horizons? Anyway, I was looking at the options. There was another milk there - can't remember the name now - something like Ultimate Milk or Ultimate for You or something. Anyway, I was reading it - and it has corn syrup solids in it

(And, yes, I know that we all need fats in our diets - if I don't go over, I average 25 grams a day plus whatever is in pretty lean meat.)

I opted to get the regular fat, but higher fiber 100% whole grain crackers.

I also bought real butter again. The salted has cream & salt as the ingredients. Unsalted - you would think it would have only cream, right? Nope - cream and artifical flavor. I opted for the salted this time.

[Newfygirl]

I was reading somewhere about real butter vs margarine and it seems that real butter actually comes out to be somewhat healthier! I know they are making margarine spreads without trans fats now, so I wonder how that would be. As far as milk...We've always had skim - even when I was a kid - when we went to a restaurant and they had whole milk I thought it was milk that went bad! I'd like to look into the organic, but I always get the Morning Glory because we can turn the milk caps into school and raise money for school...

[DorothyB]

I've heard that real butter is healthier for a long time - the problem I have with it is that it is so hard to spread. I plan to leave part of a stick at room temperature.

[Newfygirl]

I have a problem with that too... But then there is the dilemna- is it ok to leave dairy products out at room temps?

[LoriB]

I just shave it off in thin layers lengthwise. It is thin enough to spread that way.

[z]

Butter is meant to sit out at room temp. Ever see butter dishes? They hold a stick of butter and have a lid that covers it. Made of china usually. Exposure to oxygen is what turns butter, not warm temps.

www.countrycottagecrafts.com/butter%20dishes.htm

They can be had for MUCH cheaper than this one... I just grabbed the first site I saw.

I eat real butter instead of margarine. I pretty much always trust the real thing vs. the chemically engineered. Real mayo vs. miracle whip. Real sugar vs. the latest craze of fake sweetener. etc...

Dorothy, I wish we had a Whole Foods here... they have great stuff! A bit pricey for my Snowballing though.

Deby
PS. Added to say that my cousin's grandmother was born in 1900 and I remember her saying, many years ago about margarine. "I don't know what they did to make cold butter spread like that, but I don't want any part of it."

[cherokee]

And they have the new "spreadable" butter by Land O'Lakes, which, by the way, does not spread. After a few seconds in the microwave it will, but not right from the fridge.

[DorothyB]

Yeah - I tried the "spreadable butter" - you are right - doesn't spread.

[snaffle]

I am soooo impressed with you!!!

I went back to real butter many years ago... used margarine.. but it would turn to water when I melted it to pour over popcorn.. made me wonder what was really in it.