Fat Free

    Fat Free. What a great advertising tid bit.  Unfortunately in many cases that is all it is.  Ten years ago (or more) it was all about no fat/ low fat.  We bought into the Snack Welt buzz.  Since then we have learned a thing or two. Most importantly we have learned that fat is not a bad thing if it is a GOOD fat.  We have all heard of something called a Trans fat (if fat, like witches can be "good" or "bad", this is the Wicked Witch of the West). Trans fat is a fat that has been artificially pumped up with Hydrogen to change it from a liquid to a solid.  That added hydrogen turns the fat into a dangerously artery clogging fat.

     Prepared foods (think cookies, chips and candy) that are completely void of any nutrients, may also happen to be fat free.  Usually to make them taste good they are extremely high in sugar and salt.  Many people are "salty" people. They love, crave and dream of french fries and chips.  I am very happy not to be one of them (as you all know, I am a sweet tooth).  The intense draw that unhealthy foods such as these have for some people is legendary.  

      There is much to say about foods like chips and fries and pizza.  Chances are you have heard it already.  We all know that there are myriad foods that are better choices.  Logic very rarely(as in never) is the driving force behind eating "junk food" though is it?  

     To spare you a very lengthy read (and myself  a very LONG session of blogging) I am going to cut to the chase and just say it:

Fat Free chips or cookies etc. are not good for you. They are a way to make you feel less guilty about eating food you know is not good for you. They are loaded with sugar and salt and other unsavory (ironically) stuff.  You will likely eat more than you would if you were eating full fat stuff.  You would  be better served changing to a healthier choice. IF you are someone who will eat it anyway, read the labels to find the less offensive choice and most importantly be aware of serving size.  Some fat free choices will be better for you if you are avoiding artery clogging fats and you are someone who SHOULD avoid these fats (you have high blood pressure, cholesterol or are genetically predisposed to these things). Eat a rational serving size. Do not eat more thinking that they are "healthier".

    Many foods are naturally fat free. Fruit and vegetables for example (there are a few that have fat but they tend to be healthy fats).  Most meats and fish have some form of fat in them. The Fat in fish is very healthy (Omega-3). The fat in red meat is saturated fat and not so good.  The same fat is in dairy products that are not "skim".  Many cuts of meat (such as fillet Mignon) are very low in fat. These are better choices than the higher fat cuts.  Milk the one "fat free" food that makes sense.  You get all the great benefits without the saturated fat.  Choose fat free (low fat if you must) dairy.  Be sure that you are (especially in yogurt and frozen products) not getting more salt and sugar to make up for taste.  If you eat yogurt plain for a few days it really does taste sweet. It simply takes getting used to. There are naturally occurring sugars (lactate) in dairy. 

    I am going to be blogging about how to read labels shortly (in case you are confused). Know what you are eating. Read the labels and choose wisely.  You are fueling the most important and miraculous "machine" there is.