Sunday, January 15, 2017

Heart-Healthy Option Back in my Kitchen!



You know how I've been posting "baon tips" for kids the past few weeks?  It's because I have an active toddler who's starting to be picky with his school snacks!  I am that crazy parent who checks up on him every "snack time" if he has touched his food, and to no avail, he would often go for junk food instead! 

What are your sandwich spread choices?  Arrange them from less evil to the most evil ---





  1. Jams
  2. Mayonnaise
  3. Butter
  4. Margarine
Yeah, margarine would always go last.  And now that I'm older but not exactly wiser and after thorough research, I realized that Margarine is actually healthy not only for kids but for the entire family!

Let me share to you the reasons I got based from research ---



Margarine is loaded with Vitamins and Minerals that are much-needed especially for growth spurts.
photo from Google Images

  • Vitamins B6, B9 and B12; Vitamin D and Iodine - for brain growth and development.
  • B vitamins included in margine are energy-building.
  • Vitamin D3 are essential for muscle function.

Margarine is healthier than butter

SHOCKING right?  But it is in fact the truth.  As a spread, margarine is soft and spreadable as compared to hard chunky butter.  When you use margarine, you use less so that means, lesser calories so best not only for kid's healthy heart but for the adults' waistline!

Can lower your cholesterol

Another shocking fact!  According to an Australian Foodwatch website, a study done in the US of 46 families who swapped butter to margarine reportedly return with lowered blood cholesterol levels.  

As for our kid's generation who are more into electronics and less exercise, lesser calorie intake would mean lesser chances of keeping unwanted fat.

Margarine is made from vegetable oil
And vegetable oil contain little or even no trace of cholesterol!  Unlike butter, which is sourced from animal fat!

Can lower the risk of coronary heart disease
Researchers at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health published the results of a 30-year-study of thousands of people’s diets. Their breakthrough discovery? Those who remained healthy over the long period were those who replaced even just five percent of their saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat or monounsaturated fat. The result? As much as 25 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease.
Photo from Source


It lowers your fat intake.
Switching from butter to soft spread margarine helps to reduce intake of solid fats, because fats that are solid at room temperature, like butter and shortening, are typically higher in saturated fat and trans fat and should be limited. Instead, consumers are encouraged to choose healthy unsaturated fats, like those found in vegetable oils and products made from vegetable oils, including soft spread margarine.

As for me, I find it difficult to have my son eat a sandwich with just margarine spread!  What I do is use a thin layer of margarine spread in between his favorite Ham to add flavor!  Or maybe, when I cook, instead of using regular oil, I use margarine in sauteing my garlic and onions and it is definitely tastier!


AMW Fried Rice with margarine used to Sauteed Garlic and Onions

Now that Margarine is actually a healthier and tastier choice, I am definitely inserting that to my #AMWCooks to give not only more flavoring to the food I cook but also, it adds more vitamins and minerals good for the growth of my active toddler!




Speaking of local Margarine brand, did you know that Star Margarine (the margarine brand I grew up with) has more exciting flavors to choose from aside from the classic flavor we all love?  There's six yummy flavors to choose from!  And there's one infused in garlicky goodness for the garlic-lovers out there (ahem, me!), there's also Star Chocolate, Star Vanilla, and Star Caramel. 

So the next time you’re in the mood for a #ThrowbackThursday photo, spread the love by whipping out your favorite Star Margarine and take a snap of your kids enjoying the creamy, guilt free breakfast goodness you’ve treasured in your childhood!

Did you grow up to be a margarine-kid like me too?



Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

 

4 comments :

  1. margarine is definitely not healthier than butter. it has similar molecular structure as with plastic and it clogs arteries. true health buffs wont touch margarine with a stick. but whatever works for you though. just saying.

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    1. Hi! THanks for sharing this, I actually read the articles you mentioned and read so many various researches re: Butter vs Margarine. But I'm glad you said it right, whatever works! To each their own talaga but of course, in any "food" or ANYTHING, at a right amount lang, we are definitely not consuming a lot, just a bit of "some" ! But thanks! I value your opinion :D

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  2. in case u missed this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2274747/At-truth-Butter-GOOD--margarine-chemical-gunk.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm a sweet tooth and I definitely love jams and peanut butter. Anyway, my fave star margarine is the garlic flavor and star vanilla :D

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