IS MIRACLE WHIP PALEO?

Miracle Whip and mayonnaise are two of the more polarizing food items in the U.S., but people who love them seem to really really love them. Some Paleo newbies tend to use Miracle Whip as a substitute for mayo, while Miracle Whip lovers can’t imagine giving it up. What is Miracle Whip? Is it Paleo?

What is Miracle Whip?

Miracle Whip is condiment/sandwich spread made by Kraft Foods, somewhat similar to British salad cream. (It is categorized as a “dressing” – but what does that mean? Is it meant for drizzling over salads…?) In the early 1930’s, Kraft ingeniously developed Miracle Whip as a cheaper alternative to mayonnaise. In the midst of the depression, taste-starved Americans immediately loved Miracle Whip. It has long been advertised as a sauce for fruit, vegetables, salad, and more, but what exactly is it?

According to the website, original Miracle Whip’s ingredients are: WATER, SOYBEAN OIL,HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, EGGS, SALT,NATURAL FLAVOR, MUSTARD FLOUR, POTASSIUM SORBATE AS A PRESERVATIVE, PAPRIKA, SPICE, DRIED GARLIC

Those in bold are either not Paleo, or considered vague and questionable ingredients.

Is Miracle Whip Paleo?

No! Definitely not! This is the perfect example of today’s food-product-culture. Real mayonnaise made with the right oil can be considered a healthy source of fat and protein, while highly processed low-fat products like Miracle Whip have no nutritional value whatsoever. Additionally, Miracle Whip is made with soybean oil and high fructose corn syrup, both of which are big no-no’s on the Paleo diet.

When you’re new to the Paleo diet, it is really easy to make well-intentioned decisions that aren’t always the best, and advertising claims are no help at all! Just remember to always check ingredients before you buy anything in a jar, can, box, or package. Substitute Miracle Whip with your favorite homemade mayonnaise, or follow the link to Jan’s Sushi Bar for her version of homemade Miracle Whip. We also recommend using mashed avocado as a replacement for things like mayonnaise and sour cream!

P.S. The Primal Kitchen recently released their Primal Kitchen Mayo to the world. We’ll cover this product in detail in a future post.

Related Articles:

• Better Than Miracle Whip (Jan’sSushiBar.com)
• Paleo Mayonnaise (nomnompaleo.com)
• Foolproof Homemade Mayo (thehealthyfoodie.com)
• The Quest For a Healthy Primal Mayonnaise (marksdailyapple.com)
• Avocado Chicken Salad – No Mayo (frugalnutrition.com)

Image Source: Behance