Trimming the Fat
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If you're looking to trim your waist, be sure to trim the fat off the meat you eat. And consider smaller portion sizes, too.
Eating meat in small amounts can be part of a healthy weight loss plan. A good serving size would be 4 ounces of raw meat, or 2 to 3 ounces of cooked meat, which is about the size of a deck of cards. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 ounces of cooked lean meat a day.
When shopping for meat, I encourage you to choose cuts of meat that are lower in fat. In the U.S., the Select grade is lower in fat than Choice, and Prime is usually the highest. Also, choose Lean or Extra Lean when selecting ground meats.
Poultry is generally lower in fat than the red meats, making it lower in calories as well. This is especially true when you don't eat the skin, and choose white meat over dark.
When preparing meat, always trim off the visible fat before cooking. Then bake, broil, roast, microwave or stir-fry the meat rather then frying it, which adds fat and calories.
Trim the portion size. Trim the fat. Trim your waist.
Healthy regards,
Megan Porter, RD
