Are Spray Butters a Healthy Choice?

Spray butters have always been a mystery to me.

Do they have calories or not? Does using spray butter really help save calories? And, what are the actual ingredients in these diet products? They even have spray dressings at the supermarket now.

I have researched all the brands of spray butters and will share with you my findings.

The actual idea of a spray butter or spray condiment is great because hopefully it will help us use less of the product. However, when we have to use twenty or more sprays just to get some flavor out the product, you have to start to wonder if the calories are adding up.

Most spray butters advertise zero calories, zero fat, and zero everything. That is only the nutrition facts for one to five sprays (depending on the product). On average, each spray actually contains almost one calorie. Plus, you are adding about 15 milligrams of sodium for every five sprays.

So, these are not truly zero calorie products. One entire bottle of spray could contain anywhere from 600 to 1000 calories (depending on the brand and size) and 80 to 100 grams of fat. The catch is that food manufacturers are allowed to call something "zero" when it contains less than one calorie per serving or whatever they decide to call one serving.

The first ingredient in butter sprays is usually water followed by oils (usually soybean oil), buttermilk, thickening agents, preservatives, and flavorings. So, butter sprays are not a natural product. I cringe at the thought of spraying chemicals on my food. Check out FoodFacts.com if you want to see what the chemicals are exactly and any associated health risks. The decision of whether or not to use butter sprays comes down to personal preference. If you only use a few sprays and if it helps you cut down on calories, then butter sprays seem like a reasonable choice. However, if you are more into clean eating, I would choose a natural whipped butter which contains only contains cream and salt, but for fewer calories.

Finally, if you fall into the third category of consumers who like to use 30 or more sprays at a time, I would seek other ways to flavor food. Try adding lemon juice, garlic, onion, or other spices.

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