LOWER-FAT spreads are a handy way to cut down on fat and calories when used on bread, crackers, rolls and sandwiches.
Opting for those based on butter means you get a much better flavour compared with the vegetable oil-based versions, though the latter do contain less “bad” saturated fat.
Here is our pick of the best…
KERRYGOLD LIGHTER – £1.30 per 250g pack, 563 cals, 61g fat per 100g:
New unsalted, reduced-fat Irish butter comes in a traditional butter pack, making it easier to change from “real” butter without the family noticing.
Verdict: Creamy, tasty alternative to real butter. Suitable for cooking and baking as well as home freezing.
KERRYGOLD LIGHTER – £1.30 per 250g pack, 563 cals, 61g fat per 100g:
New unsalted, reduced-fat Irish butter comes in a traditional butter pack, making it easier to change from “real” butter without the family noticing.
Verdict: Creamy, tasty alternative to real butter. Suitable for cooking and baking as well as home freezing.
LURPAK SPREADABLE LIGHTER – £1.60 per 250g tub, 540 cals, 60g fat, 24g saturated fat per 100g: A blend of butter, water and vegetable oils, with no artificial colourings or preservatives and no hydrogenated fats or oils which are known to be bad for the heart.
Verdict: A tasty alternative to real butter, yet not suitable for frying or freezing.
YEO VALLEY ORGANIC SPREADABLE LIGHTER – £1.40 per 250g tub, 550 cals, 61g fat, 27g saturated fat per 100g: Organic butter with water and organic sunflower oil and buttermilk powder. No emulsifiers, colourings, flavourings or acidity regulators. Quarter the fat of usual butter.
Verdict: Good flavour – one of the most additive-free lower-fat spreads.
BERTOLLI LIGHT – £1.90 per 500g tub, 350 cals, 38g fat, 11g saturated fat per 100g: A mix of vegetable oils, including 16 per cent Bertolli olive oil – packed with monounsaturated “good” fats believed to help the heart.
Buttermilk and modified starches add bulk.
Verdict: If you like olive oil, try it. Can be frozen but not used in frying or baking.
FLORA LIGHT – £1.15 per 250g tub, 350 cals, 38g fat, 9g saturated fat per 100g: Vegetable oil-based, low-fat spread, rich in omega-3 fats – but from plant sources, which don’t provide the same health benefits as oily fish.
Verdict: No healthier than other vegetable-oil, lower-fat spreads. Can be frozen but not to be used for baking or frying.
I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT BUTTER LIGHT – £1.45 per 500g tub, 350 cals, 38g fat, 11g saturated fat per 100g: A vegetable fat-based spread, it contains 75 per cent less saturated fat than real butter.
Verdict: OK on bread, especially with a strong-tasting topper like Marmite. Can be frozen but not used for frying or baking.
