Top 10 Low-Fat Foods

Top 10 Low-Fat Foods
Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

You'll find it easiest to stick to a diet of low-fat foods if you get all the nutrients you need from them. This means eating a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups, notes the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To satisfy your hunger on a limited diet, choose items that are low in calories and fat but are high in fiber and other nutrients.

Orange Roughy

You need protein every day for cellular growth, so get 35 percent of your total daily protein from low-fat orange roughy. Three oz. have just 1 g fat and 89 calories. The American Heart Association endorses eating healthy fish instead of meats twice a week or more.

Turkey Breast

Make a protein-rich sandwich or salad with low-fat foods from the deli. Two 1-oz. slices of turkey breast have 33 percent of your daily protein requirement, 2 g fat and 88 calories, according to information from the USDA nutrient database.

Cereal

Ready-to-eat oat, rice, corn and wheat cereals provide protein, iron, B vitamins and substantial fiber while being low calories. The National Institutes of Health report that dietary fiber makes you feel full on less volume. Some high-fiber whole-wheat cereals contain 100 calories or less and are low-fat foods.

Milk

Add to your protein, calcium and vitamin totals with 1-cup servings of milk. The USDA notes that 1 cup of 1 percent milk has 2 g fat and 102 calories, while nonfat milk has 0 g fat and 83 calories.

Hummus

Small contributions of low-fat foods add nutrition and flavor to veggie and sandwich dishes. One tbsp. hummus, made from chickpeas and sesame seeds, provides 1 g each of protein, fiber and fat with just 23 calories, relates the USDA.

Sweet Potatoes

The American Diabetes Association suggests eating healthy sweet potatoes for high fiber and vitamin A content. One baked sweet potato has less than 1 g fat and 131 calories. Eat half a potato to stay within the low-calorie range.

Spinach

One cup of cooked spinach packs the most nutrition into 41 calories. With less than 1 g fat, the American Diabetes Association urges you to eat all the spinach you like for high amounts of fiber, iron, calcium and other minerals and vitamins.

Broccoli

Broccoli works similar wonders with its low calorie count. Enjoy broccoli's nutritious vitamin C and let its fiber fill you up, with just 1 g of fat and 55 calories, as per the USDA.

Strawberries

Fruits serve several purposes in low-fat diets, with strawberries among the high-fiber representatives, notes the USDA. Filling fiber and strong vitamin C content accompanies natural sugar, making a good low-fat dessert or breakfast addition with 53 calories.

Popcorn

Eating healthy snacks keeps your diet on track. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest air-popped popcorn for whole-grain fiber, protein and B vitamins. One cup of popcorn has 0 g fat and 31 calories.

References

Article reviewed by Pamela Goldstein Last updated on: Nov 14, 2010

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments