The People's Cafe

Sexy, figure hugging clothes are all the rage nowadays, and it seems that most fashion trends are keen on emphasizing the figure. That is why it is no wonder that most people, especially women, are looking for ways to slim and to stay thin.

Going to the gym and exercise programs have always helped people to keep their bodies in good shape. Working out usually entails body-building and muscle enhancement for a more shapely, toned and muscular body.

Some people, on the other hand, observe reducing diets that usually involve a controlled intake of food. One of the more popular diets is the low-fat diet which insists on a strict adherence to consuming a minimal amount of fattening foods.

Low-fat diets have gained such a large number of followers because they have been featured in a great number of television shows, commercials, on the internet, and so on. Even governments have produced guidelines on what we should be eating, especially in relation to fat. In general, the guidelines say that the total fat intake should only constitute 20% to 35% of the total calorie intake, and only 10% of calories should come from saturated fats that are found in animal products. 10% of the fats we eat should come from fish, nuts, olive oil and spreads. These are the so-called monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. These types of fats are beneficial to our bodies and can actually improve our health.

Another important point is that cholesterol intake should be kept to a level of less than 300mg per day, and if meat products cannot be avoided, these should be lean, low-fat or even fat-free. The same thing goes for poultry and dairy foods, also. Basically, we need to limit our oil intake to six teaspoons a day, including those used in salad dressings and mayonnaise.

These guidelines are fairly specific, and make a great deal of sense, but adhering to them, especially when surrounded by mouthwatering food, is easier said than done. However, there are actually a great number of low-fat recipes that make for really enjoyable meals.

Low fat recipes usually involve lots of grains, fruits and vegetables. They do not require you to become a vegan, but it may help if you already are one. However, if you are not a vegan, there still are some low fat recipes that you can use to create great tasty dishes.

My personal favorite is the Al Fresco Chicken Sausage. This chicken sausage, though largely a meat-based product, has 75% less fat than a regular sausage. Also, it has less than 10g of carbohydrates per sausage. It is very convenient to include this sausage in a low carbohydrate and low fat meal. Since most sausages contain a lot of preservatives, you might think the same goes for Al Fresco, but incredibly, this chicken sausage does not contain any preservatives or other artificial ingredients. These sausages make especially tasty and healthy meals for children. I really enjoy eating Al Fresco Chicken Sausages for breakfast, and find them to be especially good with apple maple syrup. This may be an unusual combination, but believe me, it is so delicious that I can eat it every morning and never tire of it. Al Fresco have a lot of different varieties that make for all sorts of really good recipes.

Aside from Al Fresco meals, there are lots of low fat recipes to choose from. All you have to do is find out what you enjoy best, and constantly try out new healthy ingredients and dishes that will enhance your low-fat cooking. Good luck!