Dietary fat is essential for good health. Fat supplies your body with energy, protects your organs, supports cell growth, and provides many other health benefits. It is important to include fat in your weight management eating plan. Remember, dietary fat alone does not cause weight gain and eating fat will not prevent you from achieving a healthy weight.
Choosing Your Fats
- Eat plant-based foods. Plants such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and legumes contain important vitamins and minerals; many plants also include healthy fat.
- Include plant oils in your diet. Healthy choices include avocado oil, olive oil, and nut and seed oils.
- Limit foods containing saturated fats (like butter or lard) with healthier unsaturated fat options.
- Limit fatty red meat. Instead, eat more fish, poultry, and lean meat.
Healthy eating plans such as the Mediterranean Diet use olive oil, a monounsaturated fat, as a primary source of fat. Although it is considered a healthy source of fat, keep in mind that a small serving of any oil can contribute a significant number of calories to your diet, so it’s best to monitor your consumption.
Try this light and crisp, sweet and savory shortbread made with olive oil instead of butter.
Lorraine Matthews-Antosiewicz, MS, RD
PS –
Fall is the perfect time to re-focus on taking care of yourself. Let’s talk about how we can work together so you can improve your health and fitness, achieve your personal best weight, and maintain it with ease. NO MORE DIETING.
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