Category: What’s Healthier?

Is Canola Oil Really Healthy? Maybe not so much.

Posted on by Lisa P

Canola oil has been touted for years as a healthy alternative to vegetable and peanut oils. But wait, not so fast. Canola oil is extracted from rapeseeds that have been altered through breeding to remove a substance called erucic acid, which was found to be harmful to rats. Most of today’s canola oil is produced from genetically modified rapeseeds owned by the mega-chemical company Monsanto. It is also heavily processed using chemicals. Watch the 5-minute video below to see how canola oil is made.

Obviously everyone has to make their own minds up, but IMO grapeseed oil is a better choice if you’re looking for a neutral-flavored cooking oil. First, I steer clear of genetically modified foods, mainly as a boycott of Monsanto products but also because with so many non-GMO alternatives readily available, why would I not choose the real deal instead? Second, as a healthy choice I avoid processed foods and this is one of the most highly processed ingredients you can buy.

I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Half & Half Comparison

Posted on by gch_admin

Half & Half is a cream/milk blend that people use in coffee and sometimes cooking. I recently had the opportunity to compare two brands, one “Fat-Free” and the other Organic (but not marked Fat-Free).

At first glance, each type is appealing for different reasons.  The fat-free version is actually quite tasty, although I kept wondering how in the heck they got the fat out and still made it taste good.

Here are the two cartons… Which one would you buy?
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It’s probably not all that hard to guess that the Trader Joe’s Organic version is healthier for you, even though it is higher in calories.  However it’s only higher by 20 calories. The “junk” they had to include in the fat-free version in order to make it taste like normal half & half is not worth 20 calories. I’d rather have a few more calories or simply use a half tablespoon less. Here are the ingredients lists, Land O Lakes on the left and Trader Joe’s on the right:
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The Trader Joe’s Organic Half & Half is exactly what it’s supposed to be — half milk, half cream. And it’s organic to boot. If you don’t want the calories, use less, or use milk instead.

One final note, I chose not to include a fake “creamer” in my comparison for one single reason – I’d never have it in my house.  It’s crap.  I don’t even want to know what’s in it!