40 to 50 Gram Fat Diet

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.