Pregnancy
Low-Fat Does Not Mean Tasteless
Cook's Glossary
Not all fats are created equal. "People living on the Greek island of Crete have very low rates of heart disease even though their diet is high in fat. Most of their dietary fat comes from olive oil, a monounsaturated fat that tends to lower levels of 'bad' LDL-cholesterol and maintain levels of 'good' HDL-cholesterol."
—From Eleanor Mayfield's “A Consumer's Guide to Fats,” published in the FDA Consumer, by the Federal Consumer Information Center
Low calorie does not mean bland, exactly the opposite, as a matter of fact. Healthy food, by nature, tends to be fresher and rely on unprocessed or less processed ingredients. Flavor comes from herbs and spices (0 calories, 0 fat!) rather than from salt and fat. Open a newspaper on most days and you'll find an article either touting the benefits of fresh ingredients or blaring news of some newly discovered hazard associated with preservatives used to extend the shelf life of highly processed foods. It's enough to make me start eating better (most of the time… the occasional mac and cheese out of a box is part of life!).
Under the "health" umbrella, the information and recipes that follow focus on maximizing nutrition and minimizing fat intake. Nutrition is enhanced, as we mentioned, through the use of fresh, wholesome ingredients. Fat intake is reduced through careful selection of these ingredients, such as choosing lean cuts of meat and lots of vegetables. Fat intake is also reduced through choosing cooking methods that use minimum amounts of fat. (Broiling, grilling, steaming, and boiling.) These distinctions are not exclusive; something that is listed as "nutritious" may also be (bonus!) low in fat.
More on: Cooking Basics
Excerpted from:
Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to 20-Minute Meals © 2003 by CWL Publishing Enterprises, Inc., John Woods, President. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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