The Calorie Comeback |
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We call it the "No Fat Cookie Diet." Several years ago, when all the low and no fat foods hit the grocery store shelves, we went crazy. Finally, there were great tasting, no-guilt foods available that satisfied our craving for the sweet stuff. So we ate cookies and brownies, and made cakes from the low fat mixes, and indulged without an ounce of guilt. After all, they were fat free. We could eat all we want, right?
We all found out soon enough that these products were not really harmless. Thru, they have very little fat, but they still have calories. Oh yes, calories! Even though food manufacturers had found a way to take out all the fat, they ha not really made the calorie counts any lower than their traditional high fat counter parts. How come? When they took the fat out, they had to replace it with something, and in many cases, that something was sugar. So fat came down, but calories didn't. Overall, we were eating less fat, but we were not losing weight because we were getting more calories. And excess weight increases the odds of getting diabetes.
One of the biggest reasons that building low fat eating habits can help with weight management is that you cut down on the most calorie-dense types of foods there are -- fats. Ounce for ounce, fat has more calories than do carbohydrates (bread, cereal, pasta, fruits, potatoes, corn), protein (lean meats), and alcohol. y cutting down on fat, you automatically get fewer calories than you used to get. Less fat and fewer calories add up to weight loss. this equation works unless you continue to indulge on all the low and not fat treats available.
That is why the calorie has made a comeback. Today, we are all turning into calories as well as fat grams. This does not mean you need to track your daily calories as well as fat (you want to keep this simple, right?), but it does mean that the amounts of low and no fat foods you eat matter. After all, products with just one gram of fat are not sold with license to eat as many as you want. If you used to eat two regular cookies, eat two low fat cookies instead. If you used to make cakes only on special occasions, do the same. Just make the low fat version now. By taking steps like these, you can all keep calories in check while focusing on fat. But by all means if tracking both fat grams and calories is the method that works for you, do so. It's your personal plan for eight management and diabetes prevention. |
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