Help! I need low-to-no fat meals!

My mom has been through a lot of health problems lately and her doctor has put her on a fat-free diet. She's been at it for a couple of weeks now and it seems like all she gets to eat is grilled chicken and tomato soup. What are some tasty low-fat meals I can make for her so she doesn't feel so deprived?

Thanks!

Wow, I can't imagine being on a no fat diet. But I'd go for soups. There are tons of soups you can make without fat that would satisying. Look online or get a good soup cookbook. Bean soups are especially filling. Spice them up so she won't miss the fat so much.

Hi there,

Check out Everyday Food magazine and Whole Living Magazine. I LOVE how the recipes give the nutrition information and make it easy to log. Also, check out my food diary--I typically fall under in the fat category day after day.

You might even want to get a subscription to one of those mags for your Mom or visit the blogs/ recipes online from them for free and share them with her.

No specific recipes come to mind right now, but if you're interesting in cooking ingredients, I can't believe it's not butter fat free is decent with only 5 calories/TSP and no fat.

I can't imagine a Dr telling someone they can't eat fat considering it's essenetial to life, and a low fat diet is suspicious for weight loss.

I am thinking the same thing. I would question any doctor that said a fat free diet. That is very essential for brain function and adequate fat intake is necessary to ward off depression and such.

Don't be surprised if your mom starts showing signs of depression as well as muscle wasting. Fat intake is just as important as protein intake for muscle retention.

I can't imagine a Dr telling someone they can't eat fat considering it's essenetial to life, and a low fat diet is suspicious for weight loss.

I am thinking the same thing. I would question any doctor that said a fat free diet. That is very essential for brain function and adequate fat intake is necessary to ward off depression and such.

Don't be surprised if your mom starts showing signs of depression as well as muscle wasting. Fat intake is just as important as protein intake for muscle retention.

I lost my gallbladder because of eating a fat free diet.

My Dr ordered a "Strict Low-Fat Diet" after he removed my Gall Bladder.

Well, a completely 0% fat diet is probably impossible, so I'm going to assume the Doctor meant as low as possible, and don't add fat to anything.

1. Say goodby to butter, margarine, etc. You're veggies are now steamed or fresh. Only.
2. You can get fat free dairy products, so you don't have to miss out on yogurt, milk, cheese etc.
3. Lean meats. All meat has fat (about 15% unless you're eating wild game meat, that has a lower fat content), so you can't avoid it unless you're going to go vegan, so just make sure to buy lean cuts. You'll also have to learn to steam it so it will stay moist without adding fat. I recommend a bamboo steamer, you can cook your entire meal in it except for rice. You'll have to butterfly your chicken breasts to get them to cook all the way through quickly, but its worth it.
4. Dessert is where you really have to get creative, since most cakes, pies, pastries and custards have fat as their first 2 ingredients. Frozen yogurt has been a life saver for me. MY family has always been ice cream fiends, so there was no way I could give up frozen dairy yumminess. Apart from that, it becomes really difficult to buy desserts from a store. You can make almost anything low to no fat is you make it from scratch and know the appropriate substitutions. Any recipe that calls for oil, you can substitute applesauce for. And recipe that calls for butter or cream, you can use non fat plain yogurt.

You can use broth to saute meat and veggies in also instead of oil. Tyson has a boneless skinless chicken tenderloin that is 97% fat free if I recall correctly.

I can't imagine a Dr telling someone they can't eat fat considering it's essenetial to life, and a low fat diet is suspicious for weight loss.

This... You need fat to live. I'd find a new Dr. I can't even think of a health related reason to go on a fat free diet. (besides, you'd die eventually from a complete fat free diet)

That's a really weird condition if fat makes her sick.

^^This.

The "look at me, I'm fit and healthy so I know everything there is to know about nutrition and medicine" attitudes on these boards are amusing (in a not so funny way).

Who was this comment directed towards?

The "look at me, I'm fit and healthy so I know everything there is to know about nutrition and medicine" attitudes on these boards are amusing (in a not so funny way).

Who was this comment directed towards?

Anyone that assumes this doctor is a quack without knowing any facts other than what is in the OP (or any other post stating that a doctor has recommended a non-standard diet).

You have a point because we don't know the facts of her condition, however it is extremely odd that a doctor would say NO FAT in her diet. I can't even remotely think of any condition that would constitute a no fat diet or even a low fat diet for weight loss.

Not to mention that if I were a betting man, I'd bet that the reasons are because of CVD and CHD which we know what I'm going to say before I even say it. Don't we Bcatts.

The "look at me, I'm fit and healthy so I know everything there is to know about nutrition and medicine" attitudes on these boards are amusing (in a not so funny way).

Who was this comment directed towards?

Anyone that assumes this doctor is a quack without knowing any facts other than what is in the OP (or any other post stating that a doctor has recommended a non-standard diet).

You have a point because we don't know the facts of her condition, however it is extremely odd that a doctor would say NO FAT in her diet. I can't even remotely think of any condition that would constitute a no fat diet or even a low fat diet for weight loss.

Not to mention that if I were a betting man, I'd bet that the reasons are because of CVD and CHD which we know what I'm going to say before I even say it. Don't we Bcatts.

But you are assuming. And you know what happens when you assume. Don't ya?

LOL. Ok you're right about me assuming why her doctor wants her on a restricted low fat diet. I'll let you have this one.