The CSC List: I can’t believe it’s not butter OR edible oil product!

When my daughter, Zoe, was 2 or 3, we went on frequent outings to a local bakery that gave out full slices of fresh bread as samples. You also got to put on your own butter, so - Score! Zoe liked to butter her own slice and one time, she spread it on so thick that it looked like cheese. I commented on how much butter she used and with a delighted smile, she said, “You can sure tell I’m half-German!”

(All the Germans I know from my mom’s side really like their butter, so Zoe did indeed come by it honestly.)

I also love the taste and texture of butter. I mean… toast with butter. Don’t you just hear the angels singing?

AND I’m picky when it comes to eating. I like my food to be high quality, delicious, sustainable, as close to the original form as possible and usually plant-based. Not a lot of grocery store butter meets my demands, nor do many of the butter alternatives.

A few months ago, I found an interesting package in the butter section of the health food store. It was labeled Miyoko’s Creamery and it said it was European Style Cultured Vegan Butter made from cashews and coconut oil. Not being one who is totally on board with all the soy based alternatives, I was intrigued and hopeful.

I bought a package, brought it home and gave it a try on toast. I must say that I was Delighted and Amazed! I couldn’t believe it wasn’t butter! Or an edible oil product! It was creamy, a little tangy and very umami.

I also gave it to my family to try. Zoe continues to be very discerning in her butter eating and even she was impressed. My son, Oakley loves it so much that he puts slabs of it on his toast, although he is 13 and starting to devour any food in sight, even if we’ve just had a full meal. My husband, Paul, gives it two thumbs up as well. (He hasn’t ever actually held two thumbs up for Miyoko’s specifically, but he eats it often, which is pretty much the same thing.)

You may be wondering how butter or butter alternatives can be self-care. Of course the topic of food and self-care is a huge one, and what you put in your body affects every part of your life, so butter can definitely be part of that equation. 

Also, there can be so many rules when it comes to eating that it can be confusing, complicated and limiting. One of my favourite eating philosophies is the upgrade. Rather than cutting something out, perhaps it can be upgraded so there’s less opportunity to be hard on yourself and more opportunity to eat what you love AND have it contribute to your health.

Some examples of upgrades include:

>superfood raw chocolate rather than candy/chocolate bars

>coconut whipped cream instead of dairy whipped cream

>sourdough made by a local bakery instead of store-bought white bread

>medicinal teas instead of high caffeine standard tea

>avocado oil instead of vegetable oil

>coconut sugar instead of white sugar

And of course, Miyoko’s instead of butter from a standard dairy operation where the cows aren’t treated well and all sorts of additives are swirled into the milk. 

Our buying decisions are powerful, and so, as often as possible, I choose to support businesses that have the bigger picture in mind, meaning sustainable, high values for everyone involved, environmentally supportive, and when it comes to food: delicious and nutritious.

Miyoko’s isn’t giving me a lifetime supply of European Style Cultured Vegan butter for telling you about them. They don’t even know who I am, but I love spotlighting companies and people making a difference. If you want to know more, you can check them out here: https://miyokos.com/collections/vegan-butter

I hope you give it a try!

That’s it for this installment of the CSC List. I’ll report on another favourite self-care product in a few weeks. 

With upgraded love and cultured courage,

Christina

Creator of Courageous Self-Care

Lover of deliciousness; especially Miyoko’s on sourdough (cue angels)

Expanding the definition of self-care products - yep, fermented butter now counts as self-care