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By Fiona Haynes, About.com Guide to Low Fat Cooking since 2004

10 Ways to Begin a Low Fat Diet

Sunday January 1, 2006
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.

Comments

June 26, 2008 at 7:35 pm
(1) Kathy says:

How many fat grams should I be having each day?

January 16, 2009 at 2:55 pm
(2) Donny says:

How many grams of sugar should I have a day?

February 22, 2009 at 10:05 pm
(3) maddie says:

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.

March 28, 2009 at 7:10 pm
(4) Marsha says:

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!

June 26, 2009 at 9:50 am
(5) Jennifer says:

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!

June 26, 2009 at 9:58 am
(6) Jennifer says:

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.

August 5, 2009 at 10:23 am
(7) Amber says:

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!!

August 5, 2009 at 12:24 pm
(8) Chris says:

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

August 5, 2009 at 11:26 pm
(9) Gary says:

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.

August 11, 2009 at 6:29 pm
(10) phil says:

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.

August 12, 2009 at 3:48 pm
(11) Forrest says:

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?

August 16, 2009 at 6:30 pm
(12) Lucy says:

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!

August 25, 2009 at 12:50 pm
(13) jl says:

genarally speaking no more than 10% of your total daily calories should come from fat most being unsaturated.

October 13, 2009 at 2:16 pm
(14) stevie says:

i looking for lowfat diet, i get lot exercise throug walking and work 12 hour shift

October 22, 2009 at 2:10 pm
(15) Simmy says:

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.

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