There’s a reason why dietary fat is so tempting; it provides flavor, texture and taste to our food. Much of that taste bud enticement comes from the bad types of fat that make us unhealthy. These include saturated and trans fats. That makes sticking to a low fat diet a challenging prospect. Here are 8 tips that will make it easier for you to stick to your low fat diet.
Appreciate Your Food
Finding success on a low fat diet is as much about how you eat as what you eat. Learn to develop a respect and appreciation for food by regarding every meal as an event. Treat every meal as though you were having guests.
Savor Your Food
In this fast paced world, we tend to gulp down our food without paying attention to it. We eat standing up, while driving to work, or watching TV. That is a recipe for disaster on a low fat diet. Force yourself to slow down and start enjoying what is on your plate. Rather than rushing through it, linger over your meal. Don’t watch TV while you’re eating. Instead get back to the dinner table and enjoy the company of your loved ones.
Get into the habit of chewing your food. Put your utensils down after each mouthful and chew up to twenty times before swallowing. This will help immensely with digestion. Really taste what is on your plate.
Learn to Make Substitutions
If you are craving for a high fat food like greasy French Fries or salty potato chips, learn to make substitutions. You may find that your fill in treat becomes your new favorite. For example, kale chips are an excellent swap out for potato chips without all of the unhealthy fat , excess salt and preservatives. If you have an urge for ice cream, mix up a refreshing granita and you’ll never look back!
Exercise Every Day
The more active you are, the easier it will be to stick to a low fat diet. Make it your goal to get a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise every, preferably outdoors. Try walking in the morning or after your evening meal. Play catch with the kids in the yard, swim in the pool or the ocean or go for a cycle ride. Your activity doesn’t have to be overly taxing and it doesn’t have to be the same thing every day. In fact, the more varied your exercise plan is, the more likely you will be to keep it up.
Avoid Temptation
You’d think that it would be common sense not to keep fatty foods in your home if you are trying to avoid them. Yet, it’s very easy for us to rationalize our way into doing the opposite. Maybe, we tell ourselves that we need to have a packet of cookies in the pantry in case we get visitors. Or we don’t want to throw out those frozen pastries because they haven’t expired yet. But doing so is simply tempting fate.
Go through every inch of your home and throw out every food item that contains saturated or polyunsaturated fat that you find. The more ruthless you are, the more successful your fat loss diet will be.
Don’t Overwhelm Yourself
A new way of eating can be overwhelming. Avoid the stress by easing into it slowly. Take a relaxed approach to your new way of eating. Try a few new low fat recipes but avoid those that are too complicated. You don’t need a lot of fancy steps to make mouth watering, healthy meals. Keep it simple and have fun and you will be far more likely to stick with your new healthy eating plan.
Don’t Despair If You Slip Up
So, you made a sneaky trip to McDonald’s and powered down on a Big Mac combo! Don’t beat yourself up afterwards. Remember that you are a human being, not a robot!
The occasional slip up will not wreck your low fat diet. In fact, it can actually be a good thing. For one thing, that Big Mac will taste better than ever. For another, it will provide you with a mental pick me up that will allow you to refocus on your diet. Of course, it will only do that if you discipline yourself to that one meal and then get right back on to your low fat diet.
Try Something New Each Week
Eating low fat doesn’t have to mean eating boring meals. In fact, it is just the opposite. There are so many low fat healthy food substitutes on the market that your taste buds need never be disappointed. So, treat your new way of eating as an exciting opportunity to discover new foods. Try an unfamiliar piece of fruit, vegetable, fish or other ingredient every week. You’ll soon discover just how delicious low fat can be.
