Fat free/low fat V full fat and other 'diet' food.

[wherearemysocks]

I've read bits and pieces in amongst other threads but thought it might be good to do a thread about this on its own.

What do you think?

I find it so confusing, it's almost ingrained in me to automatically choose the low fat option, but know I'm starting to learn that maybe that's not always the best choice?

Also what about 'no added sugar' does that mean that other crap is always added?

I know making things from scratch is always best but that just not always possible.

I always pick the normal option. Like total yoghurt full fat as I know it's lowest in carbs

I now try and avoid "diet" foods as they normally almost always contain added sugar, salt and artificial sweeteners (like aspartame). The calorific values between a diet version and a normal version are normally marginal and the fat differences probably wouldn't matter as long as you are eating a healthy balanced diet anyway!

It all depends on a consumers point of view and what works for them... The label of 'diet food' annoys me and the marketeers should be done for giving misleading information!

I go for the no/low fat option in food such as natural yoghurt, cottage cheese and milk.

But I enjoy and make sure I eat oily fish and avocados etc.

No added sugar in things like squash tends to mean that artificial sweeteners are in there to add sweetness...

Again, it's personal preference and label reading... I drink sugar free Ribena but rarely anything fizzy - sugar free or not.

I also rarely eat bread, pasta, cake, pastry, biscuits, cereals or potatoes except for an occasional porridge or oat based granola. But the carbohydrate content of fruit and vegetables is irrelevant to me because I'm not low carbing and that isn't the reason for my choices.

I eat low fat natural dairy (ie no sugar added), but don't buy other diet food. Rarely eat fatty meat like lamb. But do eat healthy fats like nuts, avocado, coconut oil, olives.

I cook everything from scratch so don't buy diet products other than diet coke which i know i shouldn't drink.

I don't understand though what is wrong with diet coke, it's zero calories and zero fat. Is it just because it has sweeteners? What's so bad about sweeteners?

because aspartame isn't healthy to consume

link

Sweeteners can also 'trick' your body into expecting sugary foods, raising your insulin levels and helping your body hold onto fat. They can also produce the same craving for sugar that normal sugar does. So, all round, they're Evil really

I've never eaten food that's been messed around with. Nothing low-fat, no sweeteners. Have never seen the point of artificially low-fat foods - the fat is there for a reason! When it's removed it has to be replaced with sugar to make the food palatable - hardly a healthy substitution...

The day we realise it's sugar, not fat, that we should be avoiding is the day we all start getting thinner and healthier.

I love diet coke,it saves me from wine and sweets