Basil Pesto (Vegetable oil-free!)

Dietary Info

• Gluten Free
• Vegan option
• Vegetarian
• Refined sugar free

Ingredient Hotspot: Extra virgin olive oil

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between regular olive oil and extra virgin olive oil? Extra virgin olive oil has not been treated with chemicals or altered by temperature, and is the unrefined version. This way, the oil retains more of its goodness, so I highly recommend using it over regular olive oil! Extra virgin olive oil contains mono-unsaturated fats that have been shown to improve the ratio of your good (HDL) to bad (LDL) cholesterol. Olive oil is also a great source of vitamin E, a potent antioxidant your body needs to fight against various stressors you encounter every day. Most store-bought pesto sauces are made with vegetable oils, which are full of trans fats that don’t naturally occur in nature in significant quantities. Trans fats greatly increase your risk of heart disease, so it’s worth taking the time to make your own pesto and avoiding vegetable oils!