By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
Olive oil has long been a kitchen staple due to its healthfulness and versatility. It is the perfect base for salad dressings, bread dips, or for coating vegetables before roasting. And, it has been shown to provide many cardiovascular health benefits. But, as we all know, buying real, high-quality olive oil can be expensive, and some expect the price of olive oil to rise by approximately 25 percent.
With olive oil becoming more expensive, it’s not going to fit into everyone’s grocery budget. But this doesn’t mean that flavor and healthfulness have to be thrown out the window. Luckily, there are other dietician-recommended oils that can be used in place of olive oil. 
- Peanut oil
- Sesame oil
- Walnut oil
- Flaxseed oil
- Avocado oil
Each of these alternatives to olive oil still provides many antioxidants, omega-3 and heart-healthy fats, so there’s no need to worry about missing out nutritionally! So, if your favorite olive oil gets too expensive, try out one of these alternatives! You’ll be saving yourself some money and adding some variety to your foods! Regardless, olive oil is an excellent and healthy cooking oil. So, even skimping on other items might allow you to keep olive oil in your kitchen.
For more health-related articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!