While the fat free version may often buy you less calories, it also buys lots more chemicals and/or sugar. So don’t judge a food on the fat content alone! You’ll end up missing out that way. Here are a few items to compare and contrast:
Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil vs. Fat Free Salad Dressing
Olive oil has nearly 14 grams of fat per tablespoon, which yes, sounds high, but is mostly the healthy kind of fat our bodies need. In comparison, fat free versions can be packed with sodium and high fructose corn syrup. Plus, all of the ‘bad’ in the fat free versions can make it more difficult for your body to fully digest the nutrients in the salad itself.
Butter vs. Butter Spray
A general rule of thumb with anything you eat – the less additives one particular item has, the better it is. Those so-called ‘healthy’ butter sprays have more than 10 ingredients – many of which are chemicals – versus the real deal, which is a solid dairy product that’s made by churning cream or milk. That doesn’t make real butter a healthy choice, but a small pat of it is a better option than dousing your veggies in the fake stuff. (Though an even better choice is some coconut oil or garlic.)
Full Fat Cookies vs. Fat Free Cookies
Neither option is good, but believe it or not, if you’re going to reach for a cookie, the full fat version is the better choice. Salt, fat, and sugar equal taste when it comes to baked goods. Remove one, and you’ve got to compensate with something else, and in this case it’s going to be sugar. And excess added sugar can lead to weight gain. The Khloe Kardashian diet teaches you to avoid non-fat products.
Remember….looks can be deceiving when it comes to packaged foods, and it’s easy to be fooled by clever marketing. So just stay in-the-know by reading the ingredients – not just the calorie and fat content – on food labels, and you’ll always be one step ahead.
Embrace the healthy fats and eat for optimum energy.
