The doctor thinks I may have gallstones and has suggested that I lower my fat intake until more tests can be completed. I need suggestions for gluten free low fat and non fat alternatives to:

Butter
Cheese
Peanutbutter

Thanks for the help.

Butter - I don't use it. A little bit of canola or olive oil in cooking, but you don't need much for almost anything. If you're baking, the subs are a little more complicated, but you didn't say what the purpose of the ingredient was...

Cheese - there's lots of lowfat cheeses available at the store. (I'm dairy free, so I don't know which ones are good, but I know my MIL and FIL usually get the LifeLine or something like that.)

Peanutbutter - again, depends on what you're using it for... If it's, say, a PB&J sandwhich, I'd leave it out.

Have you tried the butter flavored sprays? they can be pretty good on some things.

Instead of buttering your veggies, try squeezing a slice of lemon over them -- really wakes up the flavor.

I use Smart Balance margarine.

Thanks for the answers.

I use butter to put on potatoes, rice etc. I don't need a substitute for baking.

I primarily use cheese melted into or on top of main dishes such as on top of spagetti.

I only use peanutbutter for PBJ on rice cake. For the moment, as Tiffany suggested, I'll eat the rice cakes with Jelly.

There is a spread called "Better'n Peanut Butter" (I've seen it in places like Whole Foods & Trader Joe's) that has 85% less fat than regular peanut butter. It seemed sweeter & obviously not as oily as PB, but it works fine. At least for those who can have soy I really miss the stuff.

One tip -- you can make many recipes with less oil than is called for, and sometimes none at all. I frequently saute with a little water, veggie broth, wine, etc. and it works just fine. The only time I use oil is with chilis since the capaisin is fat soluble, not water soluble -- the flavor comes out much more than way.

Cheese -- there are low & no fat soy cheeses out there. Sigh. Or you can leave the cheese off (yes, cheeseless pizzas are fine) or use a tiny bit of a very flavorful cheese.

Butter -- I can't suggest alternatives without knowing what you are using it for. To put on bread, just skip it or use jam or something. For recipes, try substituting applesauce or canned pumpkin. (I know there are some commercial fat substitutes for baking, also). For flavoring dishes, find herb mixes you like. You also could try Butter Buds. http://www.bbuds.com/products_ing.htm

Dear Phyllis28,
I know the misery of gallstones! I have to watch my fat intake carefully as well, due to having my gallbladder removed. If you can have dairy, or at least casein, you could have Kraft Shredded Fat-Free Cheeses. Many of them are safe for us. Also, Daisy fat-free sour cream is gluten-free if you can tolerate it. Kraft Fat-Free Philadelphia Cream Cheese is another idea. Jif Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter (12 grams of fat per serving compared to the usual 16) is good, but does have more sugar. What I do is when I crave a peanut butter sandwich, I allow myself 2 teaspoons of it, and no more. That is often all I can tolerate. Smart Balance, Smart Balance Light, and Butter Buds are great butter substitutes.

Sincerely,
NoGluGirl