Week Three: November 26 - December 2, 2012

sinama45
sinama45 Posts: 7 Member
We made it through Thanksgiving! Hopefully, you kept portion control in mind as you sat down to your feast this year.

This week's focus is on making small changes in our choices in dairy products and protein sources. Some of our favorite foods are often high in fat ... that's why they taste so good! If you take the time however, you can find many options that are lower in fat content or that are even fat-free.

If you eat dairy products, reduced fat options are great for these products. One serving of whole milk contains 150 calories and 8.2 grams of fat. On the other hand, nonfat milk contains only 82 calories and only 0.5 grams of fat. Try incorporating more skim milk, low-fat cheese, nonfat cream cheese & yogurts instead of the full fat versions.

Protein is an essential component in building muscle and in a strong immune system. Much of the protein Americans consume, however, is high in both cholesterol and saturated fats. Too much of both of these increases our risk for heart and kidney disease. Therefore, choosing protein sources that are lower in fat is beneficial for our overall health. There are plenty of lean protein sources to choose from: chicken and turkey breasts, tuna, salmon, tofu, soybeans, and black beans are all examples of excellent choices when looking for lower fat options.