Reduce Fat in Your Diet

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Reducing fat in your diet doesn't mean you will face a life of tasteless dry meals and fat-free cookie boxes in your cupboards. Whether you need to lose weight or just trim the fat, the following steps will help you achieve your dietary goals.

Tips:

• You need to have some fat in your diet. The ones that are best for you are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which come from plant sources like peanuts and olives.

Steps:

1. Decrease or eliminate animal products that are high in fat. This includes red meat, poultry and some dairy products, such as whole milk, cream and butter. If you do eat meat, choose the leanest cuts of meat, poultry and fish available.
2. Check healthy cookbooks for tasty new recipe ideas.
3. Increase the amount of fresh vegetables and fruit in your diet. Eat them raw whenever possible.
4. Change your method of cooking. Broil, bake, steam or poach rather than fry.
5. Use vegetable cooking sprays rather than fat or oils when you cook.
6. Select low-fat or nonfat alternatives when they're available. Choose nonfat yogurt over regular, for example.
7. Eat low-fat cheese and drink skim milk.
8. Remove the skin from chicken or turkey.
9. Reduce the amount of nuts, nut butters and olives that you eat. All are high in fat.
10. Snack on fresh fruit, chips that are baked rather than fried, or air-popped popcorn.
11. Watch labels. Low-calorie does not always mean low-fat.

Warnings:
If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.