You’ve heard the saying you are what you eat. Truth be told, you wear the fat that you eat. It doesn’t matter how you brand a diet, it’s going to be one of three options:
- Low carb
- Low fat
- Low calorie
So what’s better for you? Low fat eating or low calorie eating?
Click Here: Calorie Counting Made EasyLow Calorie Eating Versus Low Fat
The answer is simpler than you might think. Low calorie eating every single time. Even if you choose a low fat diet, you still have to count calories and factor them in. So, by eating low fat you are, in theory, naturally embracing low calorie.
The biggest issue with low fat foods is the other ingredients. If you shop for them off the shelf, you’re likely purchasing products that are higher in calories because they’re packed with sugar. It means that with low fat dieting you get to eat less than you do with low calorie.
Everyone wants food that tastes good. That’s why low-fat foods struggle – the fat holds the flavor. When the fat is removed, manufacturers have to replace it with something else that will add flavor. And that is usually sugar.
Healthy Fats
Now, the healthy fats in foods like salmon, avocados, and nuts leave you feeling fuller for longer. Healthy fats are important to your health and body function. Your body needs fat so taking your diet too low fat will influence how your body functions.
While they’re high in fat, it’s the good fat and it’s a good use of your calories because you’ll feel full after enjoying them. The key to foods like this is to control your portions. People often embrace healthy fats and brag about how they always choose the healthier option, yet are confused as to why their diet is failing. The secret is always in the portion.
Ultimately, only some fats contribute to weight gain. Therefore, going low fat probably won’t do much for your weight loss journey. This is according to studies from the Harvard Medical School. Plenty of studies have found that the right fats in the right amounts can help you lose weight. The key is the right amount.
Low Calorie Diets Can Be Dangerous
Low calorie diets can be dangerous, too. They can result in malnourishment if you don’t learn how to properly balance your nutrition. Your body isn’t going to process 100 calories of junk food the same way it does 100 calories of broccoli. So, a low calorie diet alone isn’t the key to low-calorie eating.
Eating Well
The key to low calorie eating is balancing a healthy diet to ensure you consume the right number of calories. You need to make the right choices regularly. One of the easiest ways for you to do this is to set a meal plan for the week. Write down what you’ll have for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the snacks in between. You can shop for these ingredients only and prepare as much as possible in advance. This will keep you on track and true to the low-calorie diet option.
Good Planning
Ultimately, low calorie dieting to lose weight can be an effective method of weight loss. Just as a low fat diet done right can be, too. The key aspect of any and every diet is not in restricting yourself, but in putting together a plan that allows you a delicious, balanced meal.
Ultimately, the experts believe that low calorie eating is better than low fat. What’s important, though, is that you find the right plan for your lifestyle. As always, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins are key to any healthy, balanced diet, whether you would like to lose weight or simply maintain it.
Need Help With Low Calorie Eating?
It’s important to have a healthy relationship with food. Just like in any relationship, neither side should have the upper hand. There should be a sense of balance and respect without that negative hold that food can sometimes have on you.
You don’t have to give up all of your favorite foods to live a healthier lifestyle. By making small changes at home you can improve the nutrition of many foods that are considered unhealthy. You can easily monitor what you eat with an app like My Food Diary. It will help you to easily make low calorie eating decisions and by making healthy changes you can lose all that weight and keep it off for a lifetime.