Trimming the fat Both dietary experts say it is important to cut fat in your diet, particularly if you are overweight or have high blood cholesterol levels. Vitetta-Miller says one of the first steps someone can take to cut the fat is to reduce consumption of foods naturally high in fat, such as red meat, luncheon meat, cheese, whole milk, potato chips, and ice cream. Second, she says change your cooking techniques, not just the types of food you eat. Try sauteing, grilling, roasting, broiling, braising in broth over frying. The less processed the food, the better, she says.
Natural foods retain more nutrients but because they also contain less sugar and less fat.
Tips on reading labels Lastly, Chalmers says people can learn to avoid the fat-free trap by reading labels. Some labels of low or non-fat foods are only low in calories and fat because they are based on small serving sizes. Fat-free contains less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving. Low fat has 3 grams or less. Check the total carbohydrate, to see how much sugar or starch has been added in to compensate for less fat.