"Lite" vs Normal

CrescentVolf

Hey all!

So, I went grocery shopping today and picked up ingredients for taco night. As I reached for the reduced fat sour cream, since I'm trying to be healthier I turned the cup to read the nutrition facts (something I'm still getting used to).

I was so shocked! There were so many ingredients with weird crazy names... I grabbed the normal sour cream and read "low-fat milk, cream, enzymes", then threw it in my cart vowing to always read labels, even (especially?) on "reduced", "low", and "lite" products...

I'm curious to hear others opinions. Do you still go for the lighter option? Or like me, prefer limited ingredient?

malibu927

I choose normal because of the taste, not because of additional ingredients

sammyliftsandeats

CrescentVolf wrote: »

Hey all!

So, I went grocery shopping today and picked up ingredients for taco night. As I reached for the reduced fat sour cream, since I'm trying to be healthier I turned the cup to read the nutrition facts (something I'm still getting used to).

I was so shocked! There were so many ingredients with weird crazy names... I grabbed the normal sour cream and read "low-fat milk, cream, enzymes", then threw it in my cart vowing to always read labels, even (especially?) on "reduced", "low", and "lite" products...

I'm curious to hear others opinions. Do you still go for the lighter option? Or like me, prefer limited ingredient?

I eat low carb so I generally avoid the 'lite' options because they add in sugar (amongst other stuff) to try and make the flavour comparable to the full version.

I just limit the ingredient then. I still work it into my calorie allotment.

If you would rather eat more for less calories, then you can pick the lite option. There's nothing wrong with that.

girlinahat

I prefer limited ingredients because I don't get why they need to be there in some things. So sour cream is just cream made sour. So why does it really need a ton of other things? Like ice cream. I've cream is cream, eggs and sugar. That's it.

I tend to steer away from the low-fat/calorie versions of things (apart from yoghurt) because fat is good for you, it's satisfying and the world is a better place for butter.

CrescentVolf

Something useful-ish for me is it is difficult for me to detect flavor changes between, say, Sprite and Sprite Zero. So I could go for the lighter option, but I guess I prefer more wholesome if there is a more wholesome alternative (I realize with soda and diet soda, neither are wholesome lol)

SuzySunshine99

I just compare the labels and decide like you did.

I especially avoid anything "fat free" that really shouldn't be...like sour cream, cheese, or salad dressings. They are usually pretty gross anyways.

I never buy "sugar free" versions of anything as I'm not really concerned with sugar.

"Reduced sodium" I sometimes buy, not because I'm overly concerned with sodium, but would rather add my own salt if needed.

There's no regulations for labeling something "lite", so you really have to investigate those.

Bonny132

I go for the normal version as I prefer the taste, the satiety and to know what I am eating.

Treece68

I just fit it in nothing lite or low or reduced... you can also use greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

CrescentVolf

Treece68 wrote: »

I just fit it in nothing lite or low or reduced... you can also use greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

Oh man, I wish I liked the taste of plain Greek yogurt. I don't know what it is, but it throws me off. I only just recently started eating the flavored Greek yogurt, haha!

jemhh

I mostly eat full fat foods. Exceptions are milk (vary between whole and 2%) and yogurt (hard to find whole milk yogurt in my town.) Once in awhile I'll drink a Coke Zero because I am tired of water/iced tea but don't want to spend calories on a regular Coke.

emdeesea

Nope. I eat full fat, full sugar stuff. Just less of it.

stealthq

Depends on the product. If it's a significant saving in calories and I like the product, I'll opt for the light version. If not, I don't. Often, I don't.

Most of the additional ingredients on the light product are things designed to get the texture or taste closer to the original (or closer to acceptable). Things like guar gum for thickening. There's no real reason to avoid them unless you don't like the finished product.

Fewer ingredients doesn't automatically make a product more or less healthy. Nor does the presence of ingredients with which you're not familiar or are not 'whole'.

JenHuedy

Depends on the item. LIght sour cream? Nope. Not enough calorie difference to justify the taste, and fat free is a big heck no. But "lite" egg substitute on my egg sandwich, sure - it leaves more calories for CHEESE!

Francl27

A lot of the 'light' options have such a little difference in calories that it's not even worth bothering with them, unless you really have a low calorie goal and 20-30 calories is a huge deal.

Lounmoun

Most of the time I get the regular version of products and just limit the amount I consume to what fits my goals because it tastes better. Better taste is more satisfying use of calories.
I accidentally bought the light version of Newman's Own Balsalmic Vinaigrette and it tasted the same to me and was half the calories so I get that. I don't think the ingredients listed are vastly different.

Christine_72

CrescentVolf wrote: »

Treece68 wrote: »

I just fit it in nothing lite or low or reduced... you can also use greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

Oh man, I wish I liked the taste of plain Greek yogurt. I don't know what it is, but it throws me off. I only just recently started eating the flavored Greek yogurt, haha!

I cant eat plain Greek yogurt either, especially not without pulling eye squinty faces I add chocolate/peanut butter protein powder and sometimes a dash of vanilla essence.

As for the lite vs normal, I usually stick with full fat products, except for cottage cheese.. I just like the taste and consistency of the low fat version better, it's lighter, fluffier and less stodgy than the full fat version.

Sabine_Stroehm

I generally choose normal because low fat usually has added sugar. So, in addition to removing the satiating fats, they add the hunger causing (for me) sugars.

I *sometimes* choose lower fat... part skim mozz is one example. But rarely.

TanyaHooton

I choose normal because it has more wholesome ingredients and a bit of fat is more satiating. Ever had those Skinny Cow ice cream bars? Low cal, low fat, great diet options. Except I need 3 to be satisfied and at that point I've taken in a small mountain of sugar. A lot of sugar makes me feel bad. I'm just better off with a smaller portion if the really good stuff. Besides it's the 1st bite or two that are the best anyway.

Since I choose normal and not lite versions, I use the "all i want-some of it-not much" guidelines for foods. Fruits and veggies are all the time. I go easier on cheese, meat, nuts, oils, butter, etc - yummy but higher cal. And rarely foods are those that need some willpower, cake, ice cream, pizza, doughnuts. This is what I teach my kids, too.

To make this work, it helps to know and visualize serving sizes, or to preportion foods.

Chef_Barbell

Depends on the product and my goals at the moment. *shrug*

tryett

Aside from diet soda, I always use the normal product.

geneticsteacher

It depends. Some lower calorie foods taste as good as or better than the higher calorie food. Some days I can afford the calories, other days I can't. I read the labels and avoid "light" products that have added sugar, emulsifers, stabilizers, etc. Non-fat milk (skim milk) is all we buy. The only ingredient is milk and Vit. D.

cwolfman13

CrescentVolf wrote: »

Hey all!

So, I went grocery shopping today and picked up ingredients for taco night. As I reached for the reduced fat sour cream, since I'm trying to be healthier I turned the cup to read the nutrition facts (something I'm still getting used to).

I was so shocked! There were so many ingredients with weird crazy names... I grabbed the normal sour cream and read "low-fat milk, cream, enzymes", then threw it in my cart vowing to always read labels, even (especially?) on "reduced", "low", and "lite" products...

I'm curious to hear others opinions. Do you still go for the lighter option? Or like me, prefer limited ingredient?

That's odd...I usually buy Daisy sour cream and the only difference between the regular and light is skim milk.

But really, it depends on the product...there's nothing inherently unhealthy about a full fat product...but often I'd rather spend my calories elsewhere...sour cream would be one of those things...we have it a lot and usually do the reduced fat and frankly, I can't really taste much difference. I also prefer non-fat Greek yogurt

ARGriffy

Guess im the only one who eats the light versions! Marg, cream cheese, mayo, milk, halumi and feta and reduced sugar in beans! Oooh yoghurt, zero fat total is my gospel!

Need2Exerc1se

CrescentVolf wrote: »

I'm curious to hear others opinions. Do you still go for the lighter option? Or like me, prefer limited ingredient?

Both. The lowfat sour cream I buy doesn't have a lot of additives. I think the ingredients are the same as regular except for the fat content. Same with fat free yogurt. There are brands that have a lot of additives, but I just buy the brand that does not. I don't care for full fat dairy except for some cheeses. I bought low/no fat even when I was gaining weight.

But, I do buy "diet" versions of some things and yeah, some have more additives. It's a really small percentage of my diet overall so I don't worry about it.

ClareMillsRoberts

It depends on the product and if there is a huge difference in taste or big calorie saving. I like the Hellmans light mayo and Lurpak light spreadable butter as I really can't tell the difference to the full fat versions. I use semi-skimmed milk and 0% fat yoghurtas they are items I eat/drink a lot of on a daily basis and I don't mind the sacrifice in flavour. I've tried a couple of reduced fat cheeses but I don't think they are worth it flavour and texture wise so I just use a strong regular cheese but less of it. Light cream cheese and cottage cheese is nice though. I've just started buying the reduced sugar and salt baked beans too but have yet to try them, figured they'd be a lot healthier than the regular kind.

juliebowman4

My daily calorie goal is fairly low (1200-1400) so 30 calories here and 20 calories there can make a huge difference.
Many times though, instead of deciding between regular or light, I'll see if there's a completely different alternative. (Eg-mustard on sandwiches instead of mayo.)
But often, I'll go for quantity ....I want 'more' simply because I need to get creative to stay within my calorie goal and be satisfied

not_my_first_rodeo

Other than reduced sodium, I almost always go for the full-fat versions of things. It seems to help with satiety.

Golbat

I just get regular sour cream. There isn't that much on a taco. You might as well have something that tastes good. Plus, as someone said above, fat helps you feel full. And low-fat isn't necessarily lower in calories. Sometimes foods have added sugar to keep low-fat things tasting good.

kr1stadee

Fat Free/Light/Reduced Sugar reads to me = Chemical Shitstorm

divcara

I agree - usually prefer getting the regular version that has real ingredients than a lighter version of chemicals and artificial things and crap I can't pronounce. I always look at the grams of sugar too. So many times the lower fat or fat free version has so much more sugar in it. I'd rather just get the regular one and use a smaller portion.

I will opt for sugar free things when possible, but I try to watch the sugar alcohols and substitutes as well for many reasons, including how they can mess with my stomach.

And if I get ice cream, I'm getting my Talenti and the real thing.

juliebowman4

I'm reading all this and getting the impression that regular version= real food and calorie reduced = fake food.