But it's LOW FAT!

When I was a college student back in the 90's, low-fat and fat-free fare was ALL the rage!   I mean, FINALLY, someone listened to our plea!

Fat-free cookies for snacks!   Fat-free bagels with fat-free cream cheese for breakfast or a fat-free muffin the size of your head if you prefer!   Fat-free cheese and low-fat lunchmeat to put on your fat-free bread!

Dreams DO come true and low-fat, fat-free was the answer!!!!

WRONG!!!!

Fast-forward 20 years and the low-fat fans are still here and pleading with me to accept the cookies that brought us so much joy but so little.....well, anything else.

The problem with low-fat and fat-free versions of anything is well, there's more than one.

First, what do you think that fat is replaced with?   Fruits and vegetables?  Ummmm....NO.  It's replaced with chemicals or salt or sugar or something else less pleasant.   If you don't believe me, check out the labels. The nutrition facts panel and ingredients list are NOT the same, not even close in some cases.

Second, you eat more.   Seriously!   Ever eat just ONE Snackwell's cookie?   Well, good for you if you did but most people I know  (myself included) ate most of the container because, you guessed it, they were low-fat!   Somehow we trick our brains into thinking that if something has less fat, then we can eat more.    We end up eating more calories, and maybe even fat, than if we would have just had the regular version to begin with.

Third, fat is satisfying.   There's another reason that fat-free versions aren't as satisfying.  Fat helps satiety - that is gives us the feeling of being and staying full.   Without it, we're just searching for the next low-fat cracker in hopes of getting to our next meal of salad with fat-free Ranch dressing (the ONLY fat-free switch I never made - seriously don't mess with my dressing).

I know what you are saying, "So, we're just supposed to eat fat all day and not worry about it?"  Well, kind of.  

I want to totally rock your world and make you think about foods differently.  This took me a LONG time to grasp and it will you, too.  I want you to look at WHOLE foods and foods as not GOOD vs BAD.

WHAT!!!?????

Trust me on this one.  Just try it.   Look at the labels - not the fats, calories - the ingredients.   Does it have a laundry list of things you can't pronounce?  Don't put it in your cart!    If it doesn't have a label, like fruits and vegetables, even better!!!

When you DO have those treats and your hand is moving towards the chemical shit storm, ahem, low-fat version, pause, look at the regular food and decide if it's worth it.   Usually it isn't but you might get it anyway and that's okay.   We all need treats.   But, stick to the actual serving size.

WHOLE foods are more filling.    Shop the perimeter of the stores and avoid the chemicals all together!

www.facebook.com/youcanloseitwithlucy