"Fat-Full"foods. What's your take?

As a rule I do not eat/ buy most fat free foods. I hate their taste, texture, additives, and believe they encourage me to only want to eat more. Non fat fro-yo is the exception. Even though i eat higher percentages if fat than most dieters i am always at my caloric goal and always get my fat from good sources like nuts, fish, olive oil, eggs, and dairy as opposed to fried food and baked goods. I have always justified my aversion to fat free by saying people just eat that stuff so they can eat more of it but i really want to see results in my body. Does eating full fat vs non fat make a difference for you?
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Replies

  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    Your perceptions are born out by research. In addition, when you look at what is substituted for the fat, it's often sugar (think salad dressing).

    All things in moderation!
  • Your perceptions are born out by research. In addition, when you look at what is substituted for the fat, it's often sugar (think salad dressing).

    All things in moderation!

    This!
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I eat fat free foods so I can eat more of them, or more of something else I want. But not exclusively fat free and not all the time. I don't see an issue with it in most contexts. For clarity though, I do value dietary fat and don't avoid it.

    Salad dressing is one example. I'm going with a really low cal on something like that.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Depends on taste, my calories and my macros which one I will pick.
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    I like the fat free Chobani, everything else is full fat, whole milk and such. :)
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    I'm in favor of them.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Fat is good and fat is filling. The demonization of fat was one of the dumbest things ever to happen in the nutrition world.
  • SatchGallamax
    SatchGallamax Posts: 549 Member
    Dairy is the one area where I really prefer not to do low/non-fat. It just doesn't taste good.
  • msstuard
    msstuard Posts: 131 Member
    no I don't eat fat free as a rule. I look at cal. usually I go for what ever product light.
  • thecakelocker
    thecakelocker Posts: 407 Member
    I eat the fat free Greek yogurt since it tastes like goat feet no matter how much fat is in it, but everything else fat all the way.
  • MrsRamseyForever
    MrsRamseyForever Posts: 28 Member
    I eat the fat free Greek yogurt since it tastes like goat feet no matter how much fat is in it, but everything else fat all the way.

    I just have to say, this kinda made me laugh... Although, I have to ask: why do you eat yogurt if you think it tastes like goat feet?!? :) If I thought something tasted like that, I don't care how good it is supposed to be for me, I'm not gonna eat it!! :)

    As for the OP- I try to avoid foods that are fat or sugar free because I know that they just substitute those things with other things but sometimes if I really want something (like Coke for an example) I will take the fat/sugar free version so it fits in my macros better (if I am getting close to my goals that day). I don't prefer them by any means though...
  • thecakelocker
    thecakelocker Posts: 407 Member
    I use it as a substitute for mayo in cooking/sandwiches.
  • pwnderosa
    pwnderosa Posts: 280 Member
    I love all types of fat free yogurt, skim milk, and light sour cream. But if you come near with a slice of fat free cheese I will run in the other direction as fast as I can.
  • Andrew_peter
    Andrew_peter Posts: 94 Member
    PIck and choose myself. Yogurt fat free, PB regular, Dressing Fat-Free or light at least... Pretty much just according to taste more than anything though, and if the fat free version is significantly less calories too I'm sold.
  • ChaseAlder
    ChaseAlder Posts: 804 Member
    I don't really shop much for foods that are offered in fat-free versions. I eat mostly meat, eggs, fresh vegetables, fruit, and lots of yummy paleo recipes that incorporate those things. But to be honest, if I had to choose between a fat-free and a full fat version of something, I'd choose full fat and be sensible about my portion.
  • LilRedRooster
    LilRedRooster Posts: 1,421 Member
    I usually am a full-fat fan, but it depends on what it is. I got for skim or low-fat dairy, mostly because it cuts out the cholesterol, and I REALLY hate the taste of fat in it. I also go for leaner cuts of meat, when I do get them, because I just don't like the taste. Butter I buy full-fat, because the other things they put in place of it doesn't make sense to me, and I don't use butter often enough for it to make a huge impact overall.

    To each their own. My boyfriend buys full-fat EVERYTHING because he loves the flavor. I don't, but fat in moderation is nothing to worry about, generally. It's a macronutrient we need to survive (because your body needs a certain percentage of fat just to function properly, since most hormones in the body rely on fat presence for production), and the idea that low-fat is somehow superior or that fat is a big demon is a ridiculous idea that got way out of hand in this country.
  • GoTeamMeaghan
    GoTeamMeaghan Posts: 347 Member
    I have Crohn's disease & have trouble processing fats (1/4 of a small avocado will make me sick for 2 days) so I almst always buy low fat, but not fat free dairy products-but, I only get them if it doesn't have weird chemicals added (friendship 1% cottage cheese is my fav). My exception is fage 0% greek yogurt-tastes awesome & no additives.
  • CrystalFlury
    CrystalFlury Posts: 400 Member
    Fat is good and fat is filling. The demonization of fat was one of the dumbest things ever to happen in the nutrition world.

    Agreed, I don't believe in the "fat free' craze! I read into some Paleo and agree with their take on some things, eating the more whole versions of food is more important me now than squeezing out as many calories as possible through altered "non-fat" items.
  • Just2Bhappy
    Just2Bhappy Posts: 113 Member
    My mom raised us on fat free and skim so that is what i'm used to. I typically buy 1-2% cottage cheese, yogurt and milk if I can. The Greek yogurt and cottage cheese I like is fat free or full fat and I can't stand the taste of full fat. Personally I think you should go as natural as possible and full fat and real butter are the way to go. Moderation is key. Small amounts of high quality calories are better than larger amounts of low quality calories.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    I look for fat free or reduced fat in animal products.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    I would get nowhere near my calorie goals without a good amount of fat everyday. I like fat free greek yogurt, just the taste and texture. If I could get my lactose free milk in full fat, I would, but I make do with 2% (and this reminds that I need to pick some more up).
  • Spartan_Maker
    Spartan_Maker Posts: 683 Member
    From December 2011 through December 2012, 65% of my daily calories came from dietary fat, including lots of whole milk. I went from 308 lbs. and 42% body fat to 190 lbs. and 13% body fat. A ketogenic diet combined with intermittent fasting effortlessly melted my body fat, eliminated all cravings, and made hypoglycemia a non-issue. During that time period, a simple correlation study of macronutrient intake, estimated body fat percentage, and scale weight made it an obvious choice. Interestingly, since going under 13% body fat, my body is metabolizing macronutrients much differently. My body now favors carbohydrates, particulary those high in fiber. It's like a switch was flipped.

    It all seems counterintuitive and goes against conventional wisdom: eat high fat until you get thin. In my experience, most things that work really well, do.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    fat free 4 life yo! I'm a massive volume eater and I get plenty of fats from peanut butter :smile:
  • corneredbycorn
    corneredbycorn Posts: 267 Member
    Full fat only, even for Greek yogurt.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    Low fat salad dressing and mayo full fat every where else.
  • thatjulesgirl
    thatjulesgirl Posts: 200 Member
    Fat is gooooooood. Proper, healthy fat is *important*. Last night I saw an ad on TV.... "my mum saved us 2.5kgs a year of yucky animal fat by switching to Meadow Lea margarine"... Made me sick to think how convincingly they demonised butter and made the pseudo-food margarine look good.

    As far as I'm concerned....

    chemical+****+storm.jpg
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I go for the lite version on stuff like Cool Whip and yogurt. I don't notice a different in taste or texture in those. But for cheeses or milk or ice cream, I usually go for full-fat. Sometimes I'll do 2% on cheese or milk though, for the price savings if nothing else.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    As far as I'm concerned....

    chemical+****+storm.jpg

    water is a chemical
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    Used to be low fat as my mother always bought low fat and also, I had concerns about material I had read connecting full fat dairy produce to clogged arteries...well, I rely on dairy to keep me full as meat and fish just don't do that for me, so I am still researching and fretting that the dairy I have might be somehow harmful. I have generally between 170 and 400g a day in the form of greek yoghurt and cottage cheese. I have debated giving it up, but then too much meat isn't good for you either, if longevity studies are anything to go by, so yeah, doesn't leave much else to eat, haha.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    I can't seem to stick to a diet that involves less than 30% of my calories coming from fat. I fret about the full fat dairy, eggs, and not-entirely-lean meat that I eat, but I feel good, and so far my blood tests have always been good.