Dear Dr. Gourmet,

Q: I have some goat cheese and I want to make a cheese spread or cheese ball. Can I substitute the goat cheese for the cream cheese which is in the recipe?

A: Goat cheese makes a perfect substitute for cream cheese. There’s about the same amount of saturated fat and calories in an ounce of goat cheese as there is in reduced-fat cream cheese.

Q: I am concerned about the use of aluminum foil. I’ve heard that it is an unsafe metal and it leaks into foods when cooked with. What do you think, do you have any information on this metal?

A: Aluminum will react with certain foods, especially those that are more acidic. In some cases this can result in a metallic flavor to your dish or possibly discoloration of food.

There was evidence as early as 1965 showing a link with aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease. The main source for concern were brain lesions in those who had died of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s and Aluminum

Q: We’ve been eating Smart Balance buttery spread with extra virgin olive oil. Am really confused by what we should and should not be eating. This has palm fruit oil along with a lot of other ingredients. Is it wiser to eat butter, which has only pasteruized cream and natural flavorings, or Smart Balance which has an extended list of ingredients? Thank you.

A: Choosing what fat to use can be a challenge, but first and foremost it’s important to not get too stressed about it. I love butter and I love olive oil and I think that spreads are OK.

I keep spreads like Smart Balance or Promise Buttery Spread on hand but don’t use them very often. That said, I am cautious in my use of any fat, whether it’s butter, spread, olive oil or bacon.Butter, Spread, or ??

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