Quick Ways to Trim the Fat with Fruits and Vegetables
Everyone wants to live a little healthier these days. Why wouldn’t we? People are living longer and longer anymore. If I’m going to live to I’m in my 80’s, I want to be sure that I’m healthy and fit when I reach that plateau. Is there a trick to living longer and healthier?
The answer to that all depends on who you listen to. It seems everyday there is a new report telling us what to eat and what not to. Then the very nest day, we read about another report telling us the exact opposite. There is one thing about our diets that all doctors will agree with and that is you need to reduce the amount of fat in your diet.
Fats are made up of mixtures of fatty acids. These can be saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fatty acids, depending on their chemical structure. Those fats best for you are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which come from plant sources like peanuts and olives. Each gram of fat in a food supplies about 9 calories per gram which is why high-fat foods are also high in calories.
Reducing fat doesn't mean you will face a life of tasteless dry meals and fat-free desert boxes in your fridge. You need to have some fat in your diet. Here are some of the most common and best tasting tips for cutting out fat and extra calories next time you cook a homemade meal.
Apply lemon juice as an added flavor to steamed vegetables like broccoli or green beans.
Instead of using butter or cooking oil, sprinkle some cooked spinach with balsamic or red wine vinegar for a little extra zing to your dish with none of the extra calories.
Sprinkle steamed vegetables with fresh or dried herbs for added flavor.
Sauté vegetables in a fat-free broth, lemon, lime or orange juice instead of fat. Then, add fresh minced garlic and onion to enhance its flavor.
Fill your ice cube trays with fat-free or low fat chicken broth and then freeze it. Now, you’ll always have broth on hand for sautéing.
Lightly spray air-popped popcorn with a vegetable cooking spray instead of fatty butter. Then, sprinkle with some chili powder, onion powder, or cinnamon.
Use non-stick pans or vegetable cooking spray on a regular pan so any added fat from cooking oils won’t be necessary.
Prepare your soups and stews ahead of time and then refrigerate. You can remove the hardened fat after it cools down.
You can try using fat-free broth as a base for your gravy and sauces.
Spread jelly or jam on your toast instead of butter or margarine which can be high in fat.
Sprinkle garlic, onion powder or oregano seasonings on cooked foods in place of butter or margarine. Again, doing this will cut out extra and unwanted fat from the dish.
Add a little picanté sauce, hot pepper sauce, ginger, or an Italian herb seasoning to your food instead of sauces which are high in fat.
Keep your sandwiches lean by using lettuce, tomato, sprouts, cucumbers, pickles, and shredded carrots as fat-free fillers.
The Fruit Company offers handpicked fruit harvested right from the orchards, reserving only the largest, freshest, and unblemished fruit for your gifts. The Fruit Company offers a selection of products consists of <a href="http://www.fruitcompany.com">fruit baskets</a>, gift towers, <a href="http://www.fruitcompany.com"> fresh fruit</a>, premium fruit gifts, cheesecake, and our monthly fruit clubs. Visit them at <a href="http://www.fruitcompany.com">www.fruitcompany.com</a>.
Disclaimer: The information presented and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of ArticlePros.com and/or its partners.
