Easy Tips for Eating Less Fat (2652)

Most people need to cut back on fat. The fat in food provides calories and few nutrients. Less fat in your diet is better for your heart and your weight.

Many foods have more fat than you think. Some of this fat is already present. Other fat is added during preparation. Here are some simple but highly effective ways to lower fat in meals:

- Use less butter, margarine and salad dressing.

- Bake foods instead of frying them.

- Use skim or lowfat dairy products.

- Trim the fat from meats before cooking and drain grease while cooking.

- Choose leaner cuts of meats.

Besides eating less fat, most people need to decrease the proportion of saturated fat in their diets. Saturated fat is part of the total fat in food and is a key player in blood cholesterol. High blood cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease.

Saturated fat is typically found in hard fats such as fats from animal foods and hydrogenated shortenings. Check the "Nutrition Facts" section on food labels to learn what types of fats you're eating. Balance your saturated or hard fats intake with some liquid or Poly - and Mono- Unsaturated fats. Keep total fats at a moderate level.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

Feel free to forward, post or reprint any of the "Solutions" in their entirely, but please credit http://www.solutions.psu.edu/ as the original source of information, and please do not change the content.