If healthy eating is one of your New Year’s resolutions, don’t be lured into trying all manner of fad diets that force you to abandon whole food groups. A low fat diet is not a no fat diet. Some dietary fat is actually necessary. You can still enjoy dairy products and meat, simply choose lower fat or lean varieties; and sparing use of heart-healthy oils is encouraged. Want to know more? Take a look at my 10 Ways to Begin a Low Fat Diet, and also my article on Low Fat Living, then you can look forward to a happy, healthy 2006.
Explore Low Fat Cooking
Also from About.com:
©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.
A part of The New York Times Company.
Comments
How many fat grams should I be having each day?
How many grams of sugar should I have a day?
Everyone needs to keep in mind that with certain illnesses you cannot have ANY FAT AT ALL for lengths of time. I have acute severe pancreatitis and I can’t eat ANY fat for awhile and I am sick of the same old lecture about how bad no fat at all is, because for some like me, fat would kill me right now. Just please take note of that. I wish there were some websites that catered to or at least mentioned illnesses where SICK people are LEGITIMATELY seeking no fat diets so that they will live to see another day, not to be a size 2. Thanks.
Maddie, I, too, have just had a round of severe acute pancreatitis and was in the hospital 11 days. While my doctor didn’t say “no” fat, he did say “low” fat eating was necessary for me. He didn’t give me any time line, just that I needed a low-fat diet to prevent complications. If you would like to email me, my email is mperkins09@windstream.net. Hope you are doing better!
I totally understand what you are talking about. I had my gallbladder removed and my doctor wants me on a 20 gram fat diet. I need a low fat diet for my health and my weight. If I eat a lot of fat I get very ill. It is very difficult. I wish there was a website we could go to as well, that would help a lot. Not everyone does the low fat just for weight loss. Anyway, feel free to e-mail me!
I forgot to mention that I am also lactose intolerant and sugar sensitive. So add those to my 20 gram fat diet and it complicates things considerably. I really don’t know what I can eat and still feel satisfied and not starving all the time.
I think your all crazy. Fat is great!! I love my rolls of fat layered onto my volumtious body. Eat more fat..you only live once!!
I have found that a great way to maintain and lose weight and enjoy yourself at the same time, is by making your own food! I just got into cooking.. my gf bought me this hilarious beginners cookbook called “Get in the Kitchen, BIT@HES!” (bitchcooks.com).. besides being hilarious.. really has some great starter recipes and food I never thought I could make myself.. check out the free recipes on the site… youll see.. plus.. i get the added bonus of my gf telling me to “get in the kitchen, Bit@H!”.. have to say that’s pretty hot…lol
For a low-fat meal, contact someone who has the “Herbalife” Meal Replacement Shakes. They are great tasting, fill you for 4-5 hours and come in 7 flavors. Plus there is only 1gm of Fat per serving.
Cost is about $1.25 a meal and that includes a piece of fruit and milk.
I feel for all of you. I had my gallbladder out earlier this spring. I am having a difficult time eating certain foods. I am told to stay on a low fat diet. But I still can’t eat dairy, deep fried or red meats. I am not worried about losing any more weight-I would love to do drive through and eat a dble cheese burger with ff and a hot fudge sundae!! If anyone has some good hints of what works or ideas-I am ready to listen.
I have always had a low fat diet since i’m a runner. when i do try to add fat to my diet i usually get constipated and gassy and lose my appetite which is kinda weird but a low fat diet makes me feel the best and isn’t that whats most important?
I agree whole-heartedly that there could be more information on living on a very low/no fat diet because of medical reasons. No-where seems to offer advice on low-fat but not necessarily low-calorie diets. My husband desperately needs to put on weight but has pancreatic insufficiency due to cancer treatment and I’d love to be able to feed him with more suitable recipes: if anyone knows of a useful website, do share please!
genarally speaking no more than 10% of your total daily calories should come from fat most being unsaturated.
i looking for lowfat diet, i get lot exercise throug walking and work 12 hour shift
I simpathize w/ you. I can’t imagine your predicament. I’ve found that if a recipe asks that you saute’ onions in oil or butter, you can do so w/out the oil on a non-stick pan/pot. I’ve been doing so for years.
Here’s my favorite go-to NO FAT marinara sauce recipe. Good Luck to you.
NO Fat Chunky Marinara sauce
Ingredients:
2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
1 can of mushrooms
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
4 clove garlic, minced
2 carrots
1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/3 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup white wine or water.
Directions:
1. In a food processor finely chop the garlic & carrots, add Italian tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper and pulse until tomatoes are chunky.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat brown the finely chopped onion for 3-5 minutes. Add the blended tomato sauce and white wine (or water).
3. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over whole wheat pasta of your choice.
For those that suffer from Gastritis and Gallbladder stones we are adviced NOT TO EAT ANYTHING with High amounts of acid or fat. So Onions, Garlic, Black Pepper(or any type) is out of the question. Especially tomato or wine. All those ingredients kick up your biles and can irritate people that should be on low fat diets. Of course some people tolerate more than others but its best to try not to have them unless you happen to go out somewhere and its all there is…but be prepared for attacks after..
Great article , the only thing I would add would be if your goal is to lose weight to eat more frequently, like 4 to 5 times per day this keeps your metabolism fired up and burning fat. Of course they would be smaller meals. You are right most of us do need some fat in our diets.
I can not have fat eaither I have NAFLD (liver disease) with a bit of scoliosis of the liver
I just got test results back with my Triglycerides at over 5 thousand. Im having NO ill health effects other than a bit of extra weight (and thats coming off fast now that im watching what i eat, Only the quantity tho)….Im just trying to lower that down before i actually see effects. Im willing to bet that the first effect i see, will be Death. Im not pleased.
Hi..my Daughter is a type one diabetic, she has been diagnosed with eosiniphilic gastroenteritis. the Doctors says she should try a low fat diet. she is 13 and I’m not sure what kind?
Fat is not BAD, carbs are not BAD, protein is not BAD.
And none of these macronutrients are FATTENING or UNHEALTHY if natural.
What is BAD is eating wrong food and ratios for YOUR body.
Some people NEED a HIGH PROTEIN & HIGH FAT diet & LOW CARB to feel energized both physically and mentally and to be HEALTHY and free from cravings.
Some people do best on a HIGH CARB & LOW PROTEIN & LOW FAT diet for the same reasons.
Some people need a very balanced diet.
It depends on your current “Metabolic type” – Look that up.
In fact a low fat diet could be really dangerous for some people who actually requires lots of animal fat/meat, oils and raw butter!!!
I have pancreatitis, and found this online.. good place for those with gallstones/pancreatitis to start at… though everyone reacts differently and has different levels of severity.
http://dochayes.com/Diets/Pancreatitis%20-%20Post%20Cholecystectomy%20Diets.pdf