Dear Margarine,
Things change, people change. Let’s just call it like it is: I’ve changed. It’s time for you and I to go our separate ways. No, you haven’t done anything wrong and I don’t hate you. In fact, you are exactly the margarine I knew when we first met. I know, I know, you don’t like to be called margarine. So I’ll call you by your real name Earth Balance Buttery Spread – Soy Free.
I remember being so happy when I first met you. You were just exactly what I was looking for. You were free of the dreaded trans-fats, you were dairy-free, you were even soy-free and really good in baked goods. I bragged about you and felt so proud when I introduced you to my friends. I was so sure you were the “one for me” – all healthy, and vegan and real.
I’ve always touted the rightness and goodness of eating REAL food, and cutting out the processed foods. All the while I stuck with you . . . all because of what you didn’t have and because you were not an animal product. I even convinced myself you weren’t really a processed food. I took a closer look at you and your label and saw what I already knew in my heart. As good as you taste on my toast, and as good as you are in baked goods, you just aren’t real food.
Expeller-pressed natural oil blend (palm fruit, canola, safflower and olive), water, salt, sunflower lecithin, pea protein, natural flavor (derived from corn: no mg, no alcohol, no gluten), lactic acid (non-dairy source), naturally extracted annatto for color.
If I can’t grow it myself, or make it myself in my own kitchen, then it’s just not real food. If you’re not REAl food, you’re not for me.
I can’t stay with you just because you aren’t as awful as some of that other stuff. That’s settling and it’s something I have sworn never to do again. I have to put my health first . . . and you aren’t real food, so you aren’t good for me. You have too many ingredients not naturally found in nature. I hate to admit it, but you are processed.
No I’m not going to back to some old flame like real butter or any of the margarines or margarine-like substances. I’m going real. I’ll use coconut oil in my baking and cooking. Heck, nut butters are pretty great in cookies and I make them myself right out of the nuts. I can spread avocado or nut butters on my toast and be perfectly happy.
I can replace you pretty easily on some things. I don’t mean to sound hard-hearted, but I won’t really miss you at all in most ways. It’s the pancakes and the waffles. That’s really the reason I’ve stuck with you so long. I know, I know. I sound so shallow, but it’s the truth. Well, I’ve started using coconut butter on those two foods and, you know what? It’s going to work just fine.
No, nut butters, avocado, and coconut butter don’t taste like you. They don’t taste like real butter either. I get that. They do’t have to taste like you. They taste good and that’s what I’m after. Real foods that taste good too. .
So, goodbye, Earth Balance. We had some good times together, a bunch of good recipes, and you were always great on my warm tortillas and biscuits. You were a good part of my life, but really you were just a transition food for me. I wish you the best. Trust me, there are plenty of people out there who will love you for just who you are.
Love,
Rachel
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