by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD
A fat-restricted diet limits the amount of fat you can consume each day.
This diet may be prescribed for certain conditions that make it difficult for the body to digest fat, such as chronic pancreatitis and gallbladder disease. Following a fat-restricted diet will minimize the unpleasant side effects of fat malabsorption, such as diarrhea, gas, and cramping.
A fat-restricted diet typically limits fat intake to 50 grams per day. Fat contains nine calories per gram. So, if you need 2,000 calories per day, this means only about 22% of those calories can be from fat. The rest should be from carbohydrate or protein.
For most people, its possible to meet all nutrient requirements on this diet. But, depending on how long you follow it and how much fat you can digest, a supplement may be recommended. Vitamins A , D , E , and K are fat soluble, which means they need fat to be absorbed. Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian about supplementing with vitamins.
The following guide is broken down into categories based on the My Pyramid recommendations for healthful eating. It is recommended that you work with a registered dietitian to determine how many servings of each category you should eat. Here are some general recommendations:
The base of your diet should be composed of grains, vegetables, and fruit. Strive to eat foods from these three categories at each meal.Limit your intake of meat, fish, poultry, and eggs to 6 ounces per day.Consume no more than 3 teaspoons of fat per day (eg, vegetable oils, butter, and margarine).Enjoy low-fat or fat-free sweets or snack foods in moderation.If you enjoy healthful fats such as nuts, olives, and avocados, ask your doctor or dietitian about how you can add these foods into your diet. Since these foods have a lot of fat, they need to added to your day's intake of fat.Food CategoryFoods RecommendedFoods to AvoidGrainsWhole grain breadsLow-fat whole grain cerealsRicePasta or noodlesHomemade pancakes or French toast made with minimal fatLow-fat crackersBaked chipsPretzelsUnbuttered popcornFried riceGranolaBiscuitsSweet rollsMuffins, scones, coffee bread, doughnutsMost pancakes and wafflesCheese breadVegetablesFresh, frozen, or canned vegetablesVegetables prepared with butter, oil, or sauceFried vegetablesMashed potatoes made with butter, margarine, or creamFrench friesFruitFresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruitsAvocados, coconuts, and olivesFruit prepared with butter, cream, or sauceMilkFat-free (ie, nonfat, skim) milkLow-fat or nonfat cheesesFat-free yogurt or kefirFat-free buttermilkReduced fat (2%) or whole milkChocolate milkCream (whipped, heavy, sour, etc)Whole milk yogurtRegular cheeseMeat and Beans
Lean meatsChicken or turkey without the skinLean fishBeans and legumesEgg whites (limit whole eggs to 3 per week)Fatty cuts of meatDuck or gooseBaconSausage or hot dogsCold cutsFish canned in oilNuts and peanut butterOilsFat-free salad dressingsFat-free mayonnaiseNonstick cooking spraysVegetable oils in excess of allowed amountRegular salad dressingFats and Sweets (in moderation)HoneyJamHard candiesJelly beansMarshmallowsLow-fat or fat-free ice cream or frozen yogurtSherbets or fruit iceJell-OAngel food cakeButter, margarine, lard, shortening in excess of allowed amountSnack chipsIce creamPastries, pie, cake, and cookiesChocolateMost candyBeveragesCoffee, teaCarbonated beveragesJuiceWaterCoffee drinks made with fat-free milkCocoa made with fat-free milkFrappes, milkshakesEggnogOtherSoups made from a fat-free milk or broth baseHerbs and spicesSalt (in moderation)Cream soupsNon-dairy creamer Suggestions on Eating a Fat-Restricted DietLook for the following key phrases on food labels: low-fat, nonfat, and fat-free.Choose foods that contain less than 3 grams of fat per serving. Be sure to eat only one serving.Avoid fried and sauted foods. Use low-fat cooking methods, such as baking, roasting, broiling, poaching, grilling, boiling, or steaming.Select lean cuts of meat, such as loin and round. Trim visible fat before cooking.Eat small frequent meals, rather than two or three large meals. This will make it easier for your body to digest any fat that you consume.Work with a registered dietitian to come up with an individualized diet plan. RESOURCES:
American Dietetic Associationhttp://www.eatright.org National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseaseshttp://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES: Canadian Association of Gastroenterologyhttp://www.cag-acg.org/default.aspx Dietitians of Canadahttp://www.dietitians.ca/ References: Restricted fat diet. Ohio State University Medical Center website. Available at: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/pdfs/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDocs/nut-diet/nut-other/restrict.pdf . Accessed April 16, 2007. Steps to a healthier you. US Department of Agriculture website. Available at: http://www.mypyramid.gov/ . Accessed March 10, 2007. Last reviewed May 2008 by Dianne Scheinberg, MS, RD, LDNPlease be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
