What About Cooking Oil?

For some time there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding so called ‘good fats’ VS ‘bad fats’ and what kind of fat or oil to use in cooking.

I’ve done some reading about these things and here are a few conclusions I have drawn:
1. Margarine is only a few molecules away from plastic so I don’t buy that.
2. Butter melts at body temperature and it’s on sale often, so that’s a good use of my food money.
3. Olive oil has a high smoke point and a mild flavor. It’s often on sale at my local grocery, so that’s one I will use.
4. Anything with trans fat gets a ‘no’ vote from me. Even on sale. These would include: canned shortening, shortening packaged like sticks of butter, oleo, and any oils you’d find in processed foods.

I am no dietitian or medical expert. I’m a home cook with a passion for food. In my own experience I find that enjoying a diet rich in a variety of whole foods like eggs-whites AND yolks-green, leafy vegetables, modest amounts of chicken, beef, pork and fish, fresh and canned fruits along with grains, seeds and nuts keeps my body and soul together. The vessel that houses my spirit feels quite perky and full of vim, vinegar and vitality.

I shy away from the following oils:
1. Sesame oil because it does not get used before it becomes rancid.
2. Corn oil on account of the aroma. I live in corn country but I don’t care for my kitchen to smell like corn, thank you very much.
3. Sunflower oil because our local grocery does not carry it.
4. Grape seed oil does not fit our food budget. Neither does peanut oil, avocado oil, or almond oil. They are all fine for the diet and have wonderful flavor; they just are not so fine in the finance department.
5. Canola oil, also known as Rapeseed oil, has a terrible reputation but I think any oil derived from grains would be a good thing to ingest. I tend to vote with my wallet on that one.

Someone once advised me to use 1 spoonful of virgin coconut oil daily for well being. I scoffed, but decided not to knock it till I had tried it. Twenty pounds lighter, I had a whole new appreciation for that spoonful per day! I could not help noticing my skin was softer and my digestion improved with the use of the coconut oil. Not to mention the weight loss. I did not store it in the refrigerator, for if I had, it would have hardened and resembled the lard my mother used in making pie crust!

Life is fraught with choice and cooking oils are a perfect example of that! My most heartfelt advice to you is to eat well and wisely, enjoy every bite you take with a grateful heart and a sense of adventure. Experiment with various oils to see what serves YOU best!