Cooking Oil Options

While I'm a big fan of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. There are a few other cooking oils that are tasty, and relatively good for you too. Just remember if you're trying to loose weight, use cooking oil in moderation. One tablespoon of oil can cost you 120 calories.

Avocado oil: Pressed from the fleshy pulp surrounding the avocado pit, this nutty-flavored oil, like olive oil, is rich in monounsaturated fats. It has a high smoke point, which makes it good for sauteing or stir-frying fish, chicken, or vegetables. It's also delicious in vinaigrette dressings or drizzled over vegetables.

Grapeseed oil: Extracted from grape seeds, and typically imported from France, Italy, or Switzerland, this oil also has a high smoke point, which makes it good for sauteing or stir-frying. It is equally delicious in salad dressings.

Nut oils: Not a fan of nut oils because they are higher in fat content than other oils.

Pumpkin seed oil: Made from roasted pumpkin seeds, this very flavorful, dark green, opaque oil is best used in combination with lighter oils for sauteing or in salad dressings. It can also be used undiluted to add a distinctive flavor to fish or steamed vegetables.

Safflower oil: Safflower oil contains more polyunsaturated fats than any other oil. It also has a high smoke point, which makes it fine for sauteing or stir-frying. You can mix it with more flavorful oils for heart-healthy salad dressings, too.