There is a growing number of people - among them medical professionals, scientists and nutrition experts - who believe that natural fats play an important role in a healthy diet, and that we are cheating ourselves out of vital nutrients by sticking to low-fat or no-fat diets. I do not count myself among the experts, but I do tend to agree with the research. When looking at the big picture, and even when reading between the lines of conventional research that seems to prove otherwise, the evidence suggests that they may be on to something.
Some go so far as to purposely include more fat in their diet, intentionally planning high fat foods into their meal plans. I don’t seek out extra sources of fat, but neither do I shy away from using high-fat products like whole milk, cream, palm oil shortening… and coconut oil.
The whole topic can be controversial and political, and it’s hard to find independent research that isn’t trying to sell something. The Coconut Research Center is a good unbiased place to start if you want to read up on the subject. I read an article (that is unfortunately not available online or I would share it with you) in the Living Without magazine that independently analyzed a variety of “specialty” oils, and coconut oil was one of them that struck me as having the highest potential health benefits, as well as the most ease of use in cooking and baking.
One of the more attractive features of coconut oil is the fact that it is very heat-stable, meaning that cooking and frying with it does not destroy its nutrients, unlike most vegetable oils. It has a decently high smoking point, too, which helps.
Normally, I buy the cheap, not-quite-as-healthy refined stuff at Walmart just because I can’t afford the really good stuff. However, Tropical Traditions was kind enough to send me a quart of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.
This is definitely the good stuff! It still has the faint aroma and taste (when raw) of the coconut so you know it still has the highest number of nutrients intact. It’s definitely worth the investment, especially since Tropical Traditions is always running a sale of one kind or another, and also promotes heavily through blog reviews and giveaways (sorry, folks, no giveaway this time).
Soooo…. check out the Tropical Traditions website for all their amazing products! For coconut oil inspiration, try their collection of coconut recipes, look throughout my blog for recipes featuring coconut oil, or make these delicious, perfect-for-fall cookies…
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
In a small dish, dissolve baking soda in milk. Set aside. In large bowl whisk together pumpkin, sugar, honey, oil, egg and vanilla. Whisk together dry ingredients in a separate bowl; then add to pumpkin mixture. Mix well, then stir in the baking soda-milk mixture and then chocolate chips. Spoon onto cookie sheet or baking stone. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 375F.
This is a good QUICK recipe, perfect for after-school snacks!
It’s also very EASY. There might be one extra minimal step or two, like the baking soda milk mixture, but that doesn’t make it difficult or complicated. There’s a lot of moisture in these cookies, so it’s easy to make them nice and soft.
It’s pretty CHEAP, although with the extra ingredient of pumpkin, and the use of coconut oil, it’s not as cheap as regular old chocolate chip cookies.
Did you notice the honey replacing part of the sugar, and the whole wheat flour? Combine that with the addition of pumpkin and the use of coconut oil, and you have yourself a fairly HEALTHY cookie!
Disclosure: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.
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Okay but I really don’t like the taste of coconut. Does it leave a lasting flavor in the cookies? Could I substitute regular cooking oil? Sorry, on a budget
Yes, you can substitute regular cooking oil (but I don’t personally recommend vegetable oils - maybe butter would be a better substitute). If you used Tropical Traditions or another similarly less refined coconut oil, then yes, there is a taste of coconut remaining. More refined versions, like Louana, have no coconut flavor.