Comments on: Do Restaurants Serve Healthy Oils?

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:42:01 +0000

It’s such a tangled web of info about fats, it’s hard to keep track. Even when cooking at home, choosing the right oil can be a trick. EVOO is touted as so healthy, but many of us probably heat it too much and damage it before we eat it anyway. I just decided that I’m getting virgin coconut oil for smoothies and oatmeal and refined stuff for baking and cooking since the heat degrades the nutrients anyway. Great points about eating out, though — of course I was just at Olive Garden last week. I’ll try not to think about that…

By: AS

AS — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:33:40 +0000

Hello James – Yes, I imagine that in other countries the customs would invariably include using healthy oils in certain restaurants. Mostly, when I talk about eating out I am referring to selections in developed countries, namely the United States. Unfortunately in the States, we tend to be very uneducated about nutrition and place an inordinate amount of importance on profits and do everything possible to cut costs – which usually means the product and/or service is of lower quality. Oils used in much of the cooking in restaurants and many other places are indeed no exception, which is why in most cases eating out in the United States means you will be consuming an unhealthy type of rancid vegetable oil in your food. If everyone ate a diet more closely resembling the traditional Mediterranean type (or other whole food, organic-based, traditional diets) we would all be more healthy. That’s what this site is all about!

By: James

James — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:21:40 +0000

Excellent post!! Like you I suspect that a large majority of restuarants use extremely unhealthy cooking oil, that are high in polyunsaturated fat. One solutions is to eat out less or indeed ask the restuarant owner about the oil, although the chances of getting a straight answer are slim! However I must point out it really does depend where you go because for example in Crete, they prepare everything in high quality extra virgin olive oil which is extremely good for you. In fact the mediteranian diet is the most healthy in the world.

By: AS

AS — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:07:16 +0000

Ooohhh, bacon grease! Love it. Also love coconut oil…here’s an article about that subject on this site:

http://agriculturesociety.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/the-unparalleled-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/

I have just started a regular habit again of saving mine when I make bacon in a jar. We used to use it when we made refried beans some years ago, and it was so amazing. I am impressed with how far you have managed to make your goose fat go. I am trying to plan other ways of saving fat and grease from the natural meats we eat to make other things, because they are so incredible in taste and nutrition. It’s funny how people have been doing these things for years and up until recently stopped just because the medical communities got on their kick of telling people to eat fake fats. And no one seems puzzled by our skyrocketing heart disease, obesity, and diabetes rates. Hmmmm. It just goes to show you that when people don’t use the brains God gave them, severe consequences ensue.

By: Alyss

Alyss — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:44:04 +0000

Great post! You really laid out in easy to understand terms what is going on with unhealthy oils. Blech! I do a lot of cooking at home in expeller pressed coconut oil which has a high smoke point and no coconutty flavor. My other favorite cooking fats are bacon grease, goose fat (one goose has supplied me with almost a years worth of cooking fat!!) and of course, butter If I had lard or tallow I’d use those – especially for any frying.
Thanks for the great post!

By: AS

AS — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:36:18 +0000

Hello Jen! Thanks for your comment. We rarely eat out either, and this is one of the many reasons why. I can normally tolerate the bad oil once in awhile if I am eating a good choice like protein and vegetables, for example. I stick to a very strict diet normally, and this is no exception when I eat out. I never eat anything fried, rarely eat bread or grains, and I usually order steak, fish, or poultry with a salad or sauteed vegetables. But since our restaurant trips are so rare, it’s not much of an issue. But I know many people eat out with great regularity, and I thought this topic needed to be written about because I’m certain most people don’t think about it at all. I guess that’s why some of us have figured out that eating at home is the best thing to do most of the time – provided, of course, that we use healthy oils and whole, organic foods.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:39:01 +0000

We have greatly reduced eating out because of this situation! Even when you try to make healthier, real food choices at restaurants… the vegetable oils are ALWAYS there. It’s almost impossible to avoid them. I also feel so horrible about 30 minutes after eating out, that it’s not worth it anymore. I can make delicious meals at home that don’t leave me doubled over.

I don’t always comment, but I check your blog regularly. It’s awesome! I love the recipes and all the information you provide. Thanks!