Full Fat Better Than Reduced

   A lot of people I know who are trying to be healthy take short cuts that end up getting them lost, rather than helping them out.  Rather than eating less of something fattening or unhealthy, and more of things that are naturally good,  

they will buy the reduced fat versions and then eat the same amount, or more... 

While I totally understand your reasons for doing so, I want you all to know that this is hurting your efforts by a long shot, rather than helping. 

I am a great believer in eating whole foods and eating to satisfy.  In follow up to the Jeni's post about the delicious natural artisan ice cream....on the other end of the spectrum there are many makers of reduced-fat ice creams, which in addition to containing many emulsifiers and stabilizers, are often whipped at high speeds so that much air is beat into them, to make them seem lighter and fluffier, than their all-natural, full fat, counterparts. 

 When you fill your stomach with air, after downing all of those calories, and sugars, it is easy to be hungry again soon after.  Reduced -fat ice creams can also contain nearly as many calories as regular, and often more sodium and carbohydrates.

    Another good example is reduced-fat peanut butter vs. a natural peanut butter. 

These are the ingredients in reduced-fat peanut butter:

Roasted Peanuts, Corn Syrup Solids, Sugar, Soy Protein, Salt, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Cottonseed, Soybean And Rapeseed) To Prevent Separation, Mono And Diglycerides, Minerals (Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Ferric Orthophosphate, Copper Sulfate), Vitamins (Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid)

...hmmm well I know what the first ingredient is...

These are the ingredients in a natural peanut butter: Dry roasted unblanched peanuts and salt

While the ingredients between the two are so different, the calories and fat are not.  You save only 10 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving by eating the reduced-fat!  Why not just eat the natural one that is made from real ingredients that have not been created in a laboratory, without all of the added processed sugars and oils.  It is also actually kind of fun to grind your own peanut butter if you happen to go to grocer that allows you to do so.  And the smell of freshly roasted, and freshly ground, peanuts will have you dipping your finger in the container before you can get it to the cash register.  Your body (and your taste buds) will be thanking you for giving up the reduced-fat version.

  I want you all to be healthy and happy, so if you are going to buy reduced-fat anything, please be sure that you know what you are getting into, by only giving up a few grams of fat....