UFO's -- Unidentified Fat-Food Objects

UFO's - they're everywhere! These alien-oriented 'unidentified fat-food objects' have been roaming the planet free, in disguise for years. It's maddening, especially when you're on a diet . Just who, or rather what, foods can you trust these days? And just how can you recognize some of the more notorious fat-food objects ? Here's a good rule. If you see one of the following words used in the manufacturer's description of the   product, then stop, look, listen and read before consumption. No Cholesterol Light Lite Lowfat Fat Free Salad One of the best examples that will unveil the innocence of a no cholesterol product is margarine or 'spread'.

Generally, a tablespoon contains 60 calories on up, beginning with 7 grams of fat. The deception the manufacturer creates is that you can have your fill of the product without the worry of cholesterol.

Unfortunately, many people who are dieting are doing such in an effort to get their cholesterol in check. The last thing someone with high cholesterol needs is more 'spread'.

One caveat. Don't totally eliminate fat from your diet. First of all, the consequences are frightening. A few years ago I coached a young woman who was losing clumps of hair. To make a long story short, it stemmed from her almost complete elimination of fat from her diet.

Light or lite are two other words linked with UFO's of dieting. These products may be packed with fat and calories. An example is potato chips. Check out those labels the next time you visit your grocery store and compare your favourite chip to its light counterpart and discover just how many calories and fat grams you are saving. Is it worth the slash? Will it help you stay within your daily calorie allotment? How does the light product taste in comparison with the full blown deal?

Everyone has different taste preferences, but the WOW varieties are certainly worth checking into - if you haven't already. With 75 calories per serving, even if you slip into 'maniac-mode' and devour a large 5-serving bag, you won't do 'undoable' damage at 375 calories.

Lowfat and fat-free can also be difficult UFO's. The trouble with these food makeovers is they tend to be sneaky, lending the purchaser the impression that just because they are low in fat, they are also low in calories. On average, people tend to consume more of a product if it's low in calorie