We may suggest a low-fat diet if your body has trouble digesting and absorbing fat, or if you have gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, or a stomach or intestinal illness. If you follow the serving guidelines number for each food group, you will get the nutrition you need. Always choose the low-fat foods within each group (“choose these foods” section).
Milk Group
2 or more cups per day.
Choose These Foods
Fat free or 1% milk
Low-fat soymilk, nonfat lactose-free milk (Lactaid®, Dairy Ease®), rice milk
Fat free or 1% buttermilk
Nonfat yogurt
Avoid These Foods
Whole and 2% milks
Ice milk, if made with whole milk
Cream soups (unless made with skim milk)
Ice cream, whole milk yogurt
Meat and Meat Substitutes
5-7 ounces lean meat, poultry or fish per day.
Choose These Foods
Lean or extra-lean beef cuts (round, sirloin), skinless poultry, fish
Veal: any trimmed cuts except ground
Lean pork cuts: tenderloin, leg (fresh)
Lean lamb cuts: leg, arm, loin
Venison and other wild game
Egg whites or egg substitute
Cold cuts made with lean meat or soy protein
These foods count for 1 oz of lean meat:
Low fat cheese, like mozzarella or farmer’s cheese (1 ounce)
Fat-free, 1% or 2% cottage cheese(1/4 cup)
Egg (one)
Dried beans, peas and lentils (1/2cup cooked)
Avoid These Foods
Limit to no more than 7 oz per day of meats, poultry or fish
Bacon
Bratwurst
Nuts and seeds
No more than 1 egg per day
Regular cheeses
Duck or goose (domestic)
Fish canned in oil
Hot dogs (beef)
Luncheon meats if less than 96% fat free, salami, bologna
Liverwurst, salt pork, sausage
Poultry skin
Spare ribs
Prime-grade meats, heavily marbled meats
Corned beef
Organ meats
Grains
5 or more servings per day.
Choose These Foods
Breads, bagels, pita, breadsticks (no butter)
Hot or cold breakfast cereal
Pasta, rice, and couscous
Tortilla (soft shell)
Fat free or low-fat crackers (check label)
Pretzels
Air-popped popcorn
Cereal and grain products are low in fat and can be used in any amount if no fat has been added
Avoid These Foods
Biscuits
Baked items (donuts, cookies, cake, pastries, muffins, sweet rolls croissants, quick breads)
Waffles and pancakes
Tortilla (hard shell), corn or potato chips
Chow mein noodles
Granola
Mixes for baked products (unless labeled fat free)
Fruits and Vegetables
4 or more servings per day.
Choose These Foods
Most fruits and vegetables are low in fat. Use in any amount.
Avoid These Foods
Any deep-fried vegetables, like French fries, onion rings or mushrooms
Coconut, avocados
Vegetables made with butter, cheese or cream sauce
Fats
Limit to 1-3 servings per day (serving sizes listed).
Choose These Foods
Mayo (1 tsp)
Butter, margarine, shortening or oil (1 tsp)
Cream cheese (1 Tbsp)
Sour cream (2 Tbsp)
Half and half, cream or non-dairy creamer (2 Tbsp)
Salad dressing, regular (1 Tbsp)
Salad dressing, diet (2 Tbsp)
Olives (5 small)
Nuts (6 small)
Avoid These Foods
Chocolate
High fat sauces: cheeses, hollandaise, mornay, alfredo, barbecue, béarnaise, cream, and butter
Chitterlings
Desserts
Limit to 1 per day.
Choose These Foods
Angel food cake
Pudding with skim milk
Fat-free frozen yogurt
Popsicles or water ices
Gelatin
Avoid These Foods
Chocolate candies, caramel, candies with nuts
Pies, cakes, cookies made with added fat
Ice cream
Other Foods
These foods contain very small amounts of fat and can be eaten as desired.
Choose These Foods
Condiments (horseradish, ketchup, mustard, pickles, spices and herbs, syrup, molasses, honey, vinegar, sweet and sour sauce)
Candy (jelly beans, gum drops, hard candy, plain mints)
Broth, bouillon cubes
Avoid These Foods
Canned and frozen meals with more than 15 grams fat per serving
Snack chips or crackers
Cooking Tips
Choose grades of meat with little visible fat.
Trim any visible fat from meat before cooking; remove poultry skin.
Meats may be grilled, roasted, boiled or broiled. Use a non-stick pan and cooking spray to reduce fat when cooking.
Remove fat from pan as meat cooks.
Add water, juices, or wine to prevent meat from becoming tough or dry.
To remove fat from broth, soup or gravy, put liquid in the fridge and skim fat from the surface once it hardens.
Who to Call
If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below. You can also visit our website at www.uwhealth.org/nutrition.
Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) can be reached at: (608) 890-5500.
Nutrition clinics for UW Medical Foundation (UWMF) can be reached at: (608) 287-2770.