Which is better – butter or margarine?

We all know saturated fat isn’t that great for us – but that doesn’t necessarily mean margarine is better than butter...

It really depends on which butter or margarine you’re buying. Here are some options:

• The American Heart Association suggests buying soft, trans-fat-free spreads instead of regular butter or stick margarine. Choose a blend with the least amount of saturated fat and zero trans-fats.

• If you’d rather have butter – consider the whipped version. That process makes it lighter and less dense, saving you calories and saturated fat.

• If you still prefer a stick over a tub, light or low-fat butter is a good choice. It generally has half the fat and calories as traditional butter.

• A butter blend with added olive or canola oil won't cut calories or fat much or at all - but it will lower saturated fat and cholesterol. They’re also softer and easier to spread right out of the refrigerator.