Don’t give up on Butter

French butter at Kaufhof, Alexanderplatz, Berlin

In the 3rd century BC, Epicurus wrote: “Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.” This was true in ancient Greece, and it’s even more important to remember this advice today. If food is more than just sustenance, then why deprive ourselves, by adopting extreme diets and labeling certain foods as “bad” or “off-limits”. Instead, why don’t we employ a little moderation so we can enjoy more variety and get more pleasure out of the foods that we eat.

After spending some time in Germany, where they know a thing or two about eating well, I have a new-found appreciation for butter. Not just any butter, mind you – but grass-fed butter that is deep gold in color, and packed with healthy omega-3 fats and other essential nutrients that your body and your brain need in order to function properly. The food shops in German cities have lots of variety in the butter case. Back home in Seattle, our choices are more limited, but you can find excellent butter like Kerrygold from Ireland, Lurpak Organic Danish butter, and Organic Valley cultured butter from Vermont in grocery stores here. They cost a bit more than the mass-produced variety, but the flavor and health benefits are well worth it.

Think of butter like a good red wine. You can have a little wine as part of your diet, and it’s beneficial. The same goes for butter. There’s no need to feel guilty about enjoying a little butter on your toast, or baked potato. Just follow the example of Epicurus and enjoy it in moderation.