Cutting Down on Fat in the Diet
A high-fat diet and fatty foods can sometimes cause discomfort and painful symptoms. They may also cause fatty stools (steatorrhoea), which are oily, pale and smelly. Steatorrhoea is a sign that fat is not being digested properly.
Here are some ways to cut down on fat in the diet:
- High-fat food contain butter, lards, ghee, oils spreads; Lower-fat alternatives contain lower-fat/light spreads, oil sprays for cooking, jam, honey.
- High-fat food contain full-fat cheese, such as cheddar, Brie, and Stilton; Lower-fat alternatives contain cottage cheese, light soft cheeses such as Philadelphia or dairy lea light, quark, reduced-fat cheddar cheese or naturally lower-fat cheeses such as mozzarella and ricotta (matchbox-sized portion).
- High-fat food contain whole milk, cream, full-fat yoghurt; Lower-fat alternatives contain skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, half-fat crème fraîche, low-fat evaporated milk, low-fat or fat-free yoghurt.
- High-fat food contain snacks such as cakes, biscuit, pastries, crisps and nuts; Lower-fat alternatives contain toasted teacakes, low-fat popcorn, fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, meringues, rice cakes, rich tea biscuits, and low-fat crisps such as Quavers or Skips.
- High-fat food contain pudding, such as pies, ice cream, and custard; Lower-fat alternatives contain jelly, sugar-free jelly, low-fat custard, rice pudding made with semi-skimmed milk, sorbet, tinned or stewed fruit, low-fat yoghurts.