About Low Fat Cooking

Tantalizing Tomatoes

2009-07-13T00:00:32Z

Available year round, the ubiquitous tomato comes into its own in the summer. Once you've smelled and tasted a fresh, ripe summer tomato, you won't settle for bland year-round tomatoes again. Find out how to choose, store and prepare tomatoes for all manner of dishes, hot or cold. Then find a list of low-fat recipes that feature this versatile vegetable�ok, fruit!

_{Fresh Tomatoes Photo Courtesy of Getty Images.}

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When It's Too Hot to Cook

2009-07-10T00:00:12Z

When the temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, or worse, you last thing you want to do is cook. Even the idea of firing up the grill becomes less appealing. Plus, hot weather tends to curb the appetite, so steaming piles of food may not be what you're craving in any case. Keep things cool in the kitchen by preparing some easy, low-fat no-cook recipes to see you through the dog days of summer.

_{Shrimp, Artichoke and Edamame Salad © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

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Mango and Black Bean Salsa

2009-07-08T00:00:38Z

Make your own fresh salsa and you may never use the bottled variety again. It�s simple to prepare and of course it's fat free. Try a colorful Mango and Black Bean Salsa (pictured), some Peach Salsa or a basic Fresh Tomato Salsa. Experiment with your own fruity variations by using cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple or blueberries; use green onions or sweet onions instead of red; and vary the heat by using different kinds of chile peppers. Whether you eat your salsa with baked corn chips or use it to complement a main dish, your taste buds will thank you.

_{Mango and Black Bean Salsa Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com}

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Drink Your Fruit

2009-07-06T00:01:22Z

There's really no excuse for us not to get our daily quota of fruit during the summer months. I top my daily oatmeal with blueberries and some sliced banana. I like to grab a juicy peach or nectarine after my lunchtime sandwich or salad, and my favorite summer dessert is a bowl of berries topped with a dollop of tangy fat-free Greek yogurt. In between mealtimes on hot days, some chilled watermelon makes a refreshing snack.

Another great way to enjoy fruit in the summer is to make a delicious smoothie. Smoothies make a great breakfast alternative or a healthy, cooling treat on a summer's day. Here are some great ideas for summer smoothies.

Low Fat Smoothies

_{Strawberry Mango Smoothie © Fiona Haynes, licesned to About.com}

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Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

2009-07-03T00:00:26Z

Boost the nutritional value of muffins by substituting some of the flour with whole-wheat flour, and using a neutral-tasting oil instead of butter. This way, you add a little fiber and reduce the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your muffins. Enjoy these low-fat lemon poppy seed muffins as a breakfast treat or enjoy one with afternoon tea.

_{Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

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A Low Fat Fourth of July Menu

2009-07-01T00:05:36Z

I love the Fourth of July. I may be a Brit, but I celebrate America's Independence Day along with everybody else. My American-born children sport their Old Navy flag t-shirts with pride. They enjoy eating hot dogs, followed by ice cream; then they wait impatiently for dusk to fall and the fireworks to begin.

Now I hate to be a party pooper, but the problem with the Fourth of July is the sheer volume of fattening foods: mounds of potato salad, juicy burgers topped with goodness-knows-what, dense and fudgy brownies, scoops of ice cream, and so on. But if you're looking to lighten the load, there are many ways to reduce the calories and fat in many of these. Here are some great low-fat Fourth of July options.

_{Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

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Preventing Child Obesity

2009-06-29T00:00:37Z

If you're trying to help your children eat better, especially if they're a little overweight, should you consider putting them on a low-fat diet? After all, much of what kids enjoy is high fat and high calorie: think mac and cheese, burgers, pizza, corn dogs, hot dogs, fries, chips, candy and ice cream. The short answer is no, since fat is essential to growth and development. But eating burgers, mac and cheese and all the aforementioned foods is not. There are healthier ways to prepare some of these foods, better ways to ensure our children consume the fats necessary for healthy bodies, and other ways to prevent our children from becoming overweight and obese. Here's how.

_{Photo Courtesy of Getty Images}

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Searching for Low Fat Foods

2009-06-26T00:00:32Z

Shopping for low fat foods can sometimes be a challenge. Understanding food labels, and figuring out the difference between reduced fat, low fat, fat-free and trans-fat-free can be tricky. As a rule of thumb, know that a reduced fat item means that is has about 25 to 30 percent less fat per serving than its full-fat counterpart. This does not make it low fat. And just because an item is labeled as trans fat free doesn't necessarily make that item healthy or low in fat, as hydrogenated oils are usually replaced with saturated fats.

Here's how to wade through some of the confusion:

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Corn, Bean and Tomato Salad

2009-06-24T00:00:04Z

Here's a delicious and zesty corn, bean and tomato salad that's as colorful as it is nutritious. Grilled corn makes this salad extra special, but if you have only frozen sweet corn, that will work just fine. Enjoy this side salad with some grilled fish or chicken and a crisp green salad.

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Chicken Soup For All Seasons

2009-06-22T00:01:55Z

I have a cold. A summer cold. This means I crave some chicken soup rather than a chicken salad. I like traditional chicken soup with egg noodles, but right now I have a hankering for chicken soup with rice. I think Maurice Sendak would approve. So for those of you with summer colds like me, or worse, flu, here's my recipe for chicken soup with rice. It won't cure you, but it might soothe your spirits.

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