> Low Fat Basics

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Low Fat on a Budget
With food prices soaring, can we really afford to eat low fat? The answer is yes, with some planning. Find out how to shave dollars off your grocery bill, yet still manage to eat low fat.

Which Fats Should I Eat?
We need to eat dietary fat for a variety of reasons, but which ones should we eat? Choose mostly unsaturated fats. Here are some good examples.

Why Low Fat Doesn't Mean No Fat
Mention the words low fat and people think of celery sticks, carrots and steamed everything else. It doesn't have to be that way. Eating low fat means making informed choices, and distinguishing good fats from bad.

Fat Fallacies
Just when we got used to hearing that all fat was bad, we started to hear that only some fat was bad, and that certain kinds of fat were actually good for us. Rather than clarify matters, it seems that we're more confused about fats than ever. Here are some common misconceptions.

Is it Time to Ditch Low Fat Diets?
Is the current orthodoxy on eating low fat plain wrong? Books and articles claim there's no real link between dietary fat and disease, and that the switch to low-fat eating is responsible for the obesity epidemic. Why should we still continue to eat low fat?

Year in Review: Top 10 News Stories on Fats in 2006
Fats can be good for you, or they can be bad. See which stories on dietary fats made my top 10 news items for 2006.

Good Fats, Bad Fats, Worst Fats
Once upon a time, all fats were bad. Now we talk about good fats, bad fats, possibly not-so-bad fats, and really bad fats. Confused? You're not alone.

What Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?
Even if we're trying to eat low fat, it's vital to our overall health and wellbeing that we include some fat in our diet, especially unsaturated fats. In particular, it's important to include omega-3 fatty acids. Find out why, and where you can get these fats.

What are the Main Sources of Saturated Fat?
Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol putting us at risk of heart disease and stroke. But what are the chief sources of saturated fat, and how can we reduce our intake?

Do Cooking Oils Contain Saturated Fat?
One way to cut saturated fat in our diets is to choose liquid oils over solid fats, but cooking oils are not saturated-fat-free.

What One High-Saturated-Fat Meal Can Do
A small study published in August 2006 suggests that eating just one high-saturated-fat meal can hinder the ability of HDL or "good" cholesterol to protect our arteries in as little as three hours after eating that meal. Just think what a lifetime of eating high-saturated-fat foods can do.

Do Low Fat Foods Really Taste Different?
We hear it all the time: low fat foods simply don't taste the same as full-fat foods, and they certainly don't taste as good. But is this really true? It may not be as clear-cut as you think. Find out about fat substitutes and whether lower fat foods really do taste all that different.

20 Ways to Lower the Fat in Your Cooking - How to Cook Low Fat
Take 20 simple steps to lower the fat in your cooking. Low fat cooking is easier than you think.

How Much Do You Know About Fat?
How much do you know about fat? Try this quiz and see.

The Skinny on Skinless Chicken Breasts
Skinless chicken breasts can be tough, stringy, and bland. But they needn't be. Learn how to enjoy succulent, flavorful skinless chicken breasts.

How Much Do You Know About Trans Fats?
How much do you know about trans fats? Test your knowledge with my quiz.

The Low Fat Kitchen
Low fat cooking becomes easier if low fat ingredients are on hand and temptation is out of the way. To change the way we cook and eat, we must first give our kitchens a low fat makeover. We can lose the habit of cooking with excess fat, or adding butter, cheese and sour cream at every opportunity if these items are replaced with low fat or fat free alternatives.

Ten Ways to Start or Restart a Low Fat Diet
Is one of your New Year's resolutions to eat a healthy low fat diet? Or, with spring and summer looming, are you reassessing your goals? Here are ten ways to get you started or back on track with a low fat diet.

My Top 10 Low Fat Kitchen Staples - Top 10 Low Fat Foods for Your Pantry
Many low fat products lack taste and texture. Here are my top 10 picks of low fat foods or kitchen staples that are excellent low fat or reduced fat options.

Understanding fats
Fat comes in different forms. Some fats are necessary and beneficial, others are not. Find out which fats to choose and which ones to avoid.

Low Fat Living
How do we go about changing the way we think about food and eating a healthier low fat diet?

Why You Shouldn't Quit Your Low Fat Diet
Low fat diets have taken a battering since the a landmark study concluded that there was no link between low fat diets and disease prevention. Should we abandon our low fat diets and munch on hamburgers once more? In short, no.

Low Fat Cooking Definition
What exactly is low fat cooking? Is it some kind of restrictive diet that requires us to eliminate particular foods? Find out what we mean, and discover whether low fat cooking is for you.

Low Fat Cooking Methods
How do we practice low fat cooking? There are many ways to prepare low fat meals that allow us to enjoy great flavorful food. Cast aside your deep fat fryer, and do away the with butter and lard, and enjoy healthier everyday methods to make your meals.

Food Labels and Fat
Determining the fat content of food is not always easy, even with the help of food labels. Do we really understand what is meant by reduced fat, low fat, light or lean? These terms have specific meanings and are government regulated.

Trans Fats - Low Fat Cooking Profile
What are trans fats? Why are trans fats thought to be worse than saturated fats? And how can we find out which foods have trans fats hidden in them?

Partially and Fully Hydrogenated Fats
How can foods containing hydrogenated oils be labeled trans-fat-free or display 0g trans fats?

Food Groups and Serving Size
The Food Guide Pyramid and Nutrition Facts Labels are useful tools in helping us make healthy low fat choices. But sometimes it is hard to know exactly what makes a serving size.

Low Fat v Reduced Fat
As much as food labels are supposed to help us, sometimes it is easy be confused. Does low fat mean the same as reduced fat, for example? The answer in this case is no.

Cholesterol Glossary
HDL, LDL, triglycerides? What do these mean? Consult this useful glossary compiled by About.com's Guide to Cholesterol to find out.

Lowering the Fat in Chinese Cooking
About's Guide to Chinese Cuisine offers some helpful tips on how to reduce the fat in Chinese cooking.

Which is Better - Butter or Margarine?
Is butter better or worse for us than margarine? Neither is ideal, especially if we following a low fat diet.

Can Eggs Be Part of a Low Fat Diet?
Can eggs be part of a low fat diet? What about the cholesterol in eggs? Are there any benefits to eating eggs?

AHA Dietary Guidelines
The American Heart Association has published the following guidelines for eating a balanced, low fat, healthy diet.

The American Heart Association on Saturated Fats and Trans Fats
The American Heart Association revised its Dietary Guidelines for the first time since 2000, taking aim at saturated fats and trans fats.

What Does Fat Free Really Mean?
When something is said to be fat free, does this mean there is no fat at all, and can we eat as much of it as we like?

Should Children be on Low Fat Diets?
Given that nearly two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, should our kids be on low fat diets?

How to use Phyllo Dough on Low Fat Cooking and Baking
Phyllo dough is a great low fat alternative to regular pastry and pie crusts. But using phyllo dough can be daunting. Here's how to use phyllo dough for your low fat baking needs.

How to Make a Lower Fat Omelet
You don't have to give up eggs if you're trying to eat low fat. Try making a lower fat omelet. I'll show you how.

How To Lower the Fat in Children's Diets - Overweight Kids and Healthy Eating
Researchers predict that nearly half of all children in North and South America will be overwieght by 2010. One-third are already considered overweight. How can we lower the fat in children's diets and help them lead healthier lives?

How to Make a Great Meringue
Making a meringue seems daunting, but it's actually pretty straightforward, so long as you follow a few basic rules.

The Biggest Mistakes When Making Meringue
With only a few ingredients, making a meringue ought to be simple, but there are some common mistakes to avoid to ensure perfect meringue every time.