I don't really do anything out of my way to choose low fat over regular, but there are some items I prefer in the lower fat versions. My favorite salad dressings are the Kraft French style fat free salad dressing and the Kraft Catalina style fat free salad dressing. I know they are high in calorie, but I like them better than the regular versions.

I also like low fat milk. Growing up all my mom bought was skim so anything else taste funny to me; although, I did buy the whole milk for the girls until they turned two and the pediatrician told me to switch to 2% for them.

As far as other items, I still eat fats in the form of avacados, olives peanut butter and salmon.

Diana

I do a mix. I prefer to use a lower fat version more often than not, but I'll eat the higher fat version from time to time. I'm not *too* rigid, but there are some things, like skim milk, I prefer because of texture (whole milk tastes like drinking sour cream.)

This is me too. Low fat on the dairy but I don't worry about it in anything else. I can't even imagine a low fat olive oil :p I try to keep the saturated fats to a bare minimum, and hydroginated fats are completely out, but unsaturated are open season as long as they fit into my calorie plan. I've even been known to eat a whole avocado for lunch :D

I don't eat dairy but I used to prefer lowfat dairy to regular fat dairy.

For now..
When given a choice of unsweetened non-dairy milk and sweetened but lowfat non-dairy milk, I choose unsweetened.

Soy yogurt usually doesn't have an option for low fat so I just grab the lowest calorie plain I can find and add my own berries to it.

Nut butters - I go for full fat nut butters rather than ones that have been 'messed with'.

Nondairy ice 'cream' - If I do indulge in this treat, I'll go by ingredients and calories. I'm not sure if there is really a low fat version of such.

Fake 'meat' - This I also go by ingredients and calories. Vegan boca burgers aren't bad and about 100 calories/18 g protein, I have been eating one almost every day.

I find that regular full fat versions of items taste a lot better and will satifisy me....but I have a serious problem with portion control. I've used the nonfat and low fat versions of items that I eat more of and never quite feel satisfied and then when I eat a full fat version I'm still in the it's ok to eat more because...... it's all a viscious circle.

I say as long as you are counting all the calories then eat what you want to eat in moderation of course. You may find you could handle some of the lower fat items eventually if you want to consume more food for the amount of calories are consuming.

Sarah in MD

I eat most of my fats in "whole" versions... avocado, nuts, eggs, etc... I have a texture thing with sour cream, yogurt, milk etc and I prefer the lower fat versions of those.

YES!! I agree. I think good fat is very important and it's something I've lacked for a long time. I'm trying to add more without pushing my calories sky high. I think a lot of the lower fat options are extrememly unhealthy and I'm better off eating the real thing, such as butter. I will never again go back to eating any kind of margarine or sprays. I eat the yolks of eggs because many of the nutrients are found in the yolk. I won't do egg beaters but instead I get organic, cage free eggs that are soooo yummy (and they smell better too for some reason). With milk I went up to 2% and I think that is as far as I can handle. The idea of whole milk turns my stomach. If I ate yogurt I would eat the full fat kind but as it stands now, I cannot make myself eat the stuff. I tried fruit, still a no go. I tried kefir and it wasn't as bad as I thought but I did accidently get low fat. Next time I'll look for full fat and make some kind of smoothie. I might even make my own kefir with 2% milk.

I keep telling myself that even if I lose even slower with these options, that's okay. My health is important and I believe I need these fats to feel better. I hate being fat but I hate feeling like crap even more.

I'm a little confused by your post because you mention the importance of eating good fats (with which I agree wholeheartedly), but then you list off lots of examples of full fat dairy and such - these contain saturated fat, not the "good" fats in nuts, avocados, olive oil, salmon, etc. I, too, eat egg yolks (usually 2-3 whites with one whole egg) a few times a week, but I don't necessarily think full fat dairy products are a good source of healthy fats. I eat real butter too - rarely - but I don't think that should be a regular source of fat for me. Shouldn't most of our fats come from nuts, nut butters, fish with omega 3s, healthy oils?

I don't drink milk, and I don't eat a lot of dairy (mainly eggs). But I do eat cheese, and it's just as often low fat as it is regular. Right now I am loving the low fat havarti slices from Trader Joes - soooo good. I eat cottage cheese now and then, and I usually do get low fat (tastes pretty good to me). My husband and I also use low fat sour cream, which I personally like just as well.

Now as for fat-free... well, that's a different story. I have to agree with Barbara that many fat free products (fat free cheese I hate!) are tasteless and/or have strange textures. I can't think of any item that I buy that is fat free that has a full fat counterpart. My DH loves milk (I don't), and when I tried to switch him to skim, he called me on it. He now drinks 1% and seems pretty happy with that.

Everything in moderation. It sounds like you know what you're doing and have it under control. Fats in our diet contribute to the feeling of satiety which is very important when calories are being cut. Low fat foods tend to have extra sugars added to them for flavor and may not be good for those wanting to cut back on sugar.

Cfmama- I also meant to ask, are you losing with this plan? If so, then I say keep doing what works, but if not, you might want to experiment and try some low fat versions (2% cheese for instance) and see how you like it.

I am losing with this plan. I stay within the 1800 calorie range (after talking to ladies here) and around 30% fat. It's a FAR cry from the amount of calories and fat I used to consume!!!!

That's awesome... then keep on keepin' on! :D

I LIKE the low fat/Fat free foods... but like some of the other people, I eat REAL cheese, lol and 2% milk, but everything else can be low fat! :)