1. Don't Forget All Fat
A low-fat lifestyle begins by understanding the place that healthy fats can have in a well-rounded diet. Although it is important to keep natural sources of fat in any eating plan, saturated and trans fats are to be avoided at all times. Try checking the labels of packaged foods to gage the amount of trans or saturated fats, and skipping products that are high in either variety. Low-fat lifestyles can be easy to maintain with a well organized kitchen and fresh ingredients. Start by stocking your pantry with natural food sources like produce (in all shapes and colors), lean protein (like chicken, fish and turkey) and whole-grain breads and pastas.
2. Be Bold With Choices
Trading the whole milk from your refrigerator is the first step to living a low-fat lifestyle, as well as abandoning all full-fat creams, butters and dressings. Choose fat-free vinaigrettes, natural cooking oils and skim milk products at all times. Although it may seem difficult at first, low-fat eaters can vary their diet by trying new things, such as soy yogurts, sweetened almond milk or vegan sour cream. Make sure to give your taste buds time to adjust to new tastes and flavors, because studies have shown "it can take up to ten attempts of introducing a new food before the taste buds adjust to the flavor." Low-fat lifestyles can be wonderfully integrated with new forms of foods, such as vegetarian meat substitutes (like sausage or bacon) instead of its fatty counterparts, or tofu and polenta instead of steak for a meal.
3. Learn To Substitute
In addition to trying new and daring foods, a low-fat lifestyle can function easily by redefining the classics. Small changes can make new foods seem tasty and keep your diet interesting. Try adding natural apple sauce or chopped fruit to reduced fat cottage cheese, or creating a portable "roll up" by mixing lean deli meat (like turkey) with a low-fat slice of cheese. Trade fatty cream cheese spreads for low-fat versions on a morning bagel, or add non-fat yogurt to sauces for flavor. Instead of letting low-fat recipes seem boring or bland, add ingredients for texture and spice like salsa in a whole-wheat wrap, cinnamon in a non-fat yogurt, or shredded zucchini and spaghetti squash atop pasta dishes.
4. Purchase Low-Fat Carefully
There are many fat-free products on the market, and a variety of these brands can hold a valuable place in any low-fat lifestyle. A wide array of low-fat cookies and cakes are available for purchase and can be extremely tasty when in a hurry. Nevertheless, it can often be best to prepare foods at home, because the majority of products are full of processed fats. Start by keeping fresh fruit, chopped vegetables, and non-fat yogurt dip in your refrigerator at all times for a quick snack, or pre-mix bags of unsalted nuts, dried fruit and a small amount of dark chocolate for a grab-and-go alternative.
5. Master Speedy Meals
It is important to create a list of on-the-go meals that can be assembled in a hurry, as part of a reasonable low-fat lifestyle. There are many smart and fast meals to choose from, including an omelet made from egg substitute with chopped vegetables, or a fresh fruit smoothie using ice and water instead of dairy. Healthy dinners can be created quickly by using a whole-wheat pita wrap with grilled chicken, spinach leaves and hummus, or cooking whole-wheat pasta with tomato sauce and low-fat turkey sausage. A low-fat lifestyle can be attained simply by being creative with cooking, understanding your fats, and keeping an open mind (and palette).
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