While there is some good advice in here, there are some things that are not really appropriate for diabetics, such as substituting apple sauce for oil in recipes. In general, the readical reduction of fat in recipes usually also produces an increase in carbohydrates.
The connection between dietary fat and heart disease has grown increasingly tenuous and complex. It's clear that fats such as olive oil, and the proper proportion of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are healthier than removing them from your diet. Even animal fats are not that dangerous when combined with low carbs. It is, though, important to eliminate trans fats and other partially hydrogenated oils. So, it's not a matter of reducing fats to a minimum, but rather what fats you eat.
Diabetics can do more for their heart by controlling their blood sugar, controlling their blood pressure, reducing their carbohydrate intake, and exercising, than by extreme reduction in fat intake.
Ron
--- In Healthy_Recipes_For_Diabetic_Friends@yahoogroups.com, Richard Lee Holbert <rlhintexas@...> wrote:
>
> Quick cooking tips to make any recipe more heart-healthy
>
> Simple modifications, like swapping out oil for applesauce, can make
> baking and cooking better for your heart.
>
> You don't have to abandon all your favorite recipes to eat healthier.
> Several small modifications in your current recipes can often greatly
> lower the fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and/or calories in your diet
> for a heart-healthy makeover.
>
> These small changes in your current recipes can make a big difference in
> your intake of fat and calories without significantly affecting the
> taste or enjoyment of your favorite meals. Some suggestions for making
> heart-healthy substitutions in your recipes are given below.
>
> Instead of: Choose:
> 1 cup shortening or lard ¾ cup canola or olive oil
> 1 cup oil (baking) ¼ cup oil and ½ cup applesauce
> 1 cup whole milk 1 cup nonfat milk
> 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup evaporated skim milk
> 1 cup sour cream 1 cup low-fat or nonfat yogurt or sour cream
> 1 cup cheddar cheese 1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese
> 8 oz cream cheese 8 oz light cream cheese
> 4 oz skim ricotta and 4 oz tofu blended
> 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 can low-fat cream soup
> 1 lb ground beef 1 lb ground turkey or 1 lb diet lean ground beef
> (93% fat-free)
> 6 oz tuna in oil 6 oz tuna in water
> 2 eggs 4 egg whites or an equal amount of egg substitute
> 1 cup chocolate chips ½ cup chocolate chips
>
> To eat less fat, salt, and cholesterol, use the following tips while you
> cook.
> Heart-healthy cooking tips
>
> Instead of: Try:
> Frying your food Baking, broiling, steaming, poaching, or grilling
> your food
> Eating convenience foods (canned soups, TV dinners, frozen pizza)
> Eating fresh fish, meats, fruits, and vegetables. Or look for low-salt
> convenience foods and make a balanced meal by adding a fruit, a
> vegetable, and low-fat or nonfat milk.
> Using butter or other fats high in saturated fat Using products low
> in saturated fat, such as olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, or
> chicken broth
> Using salt, soy sauce, or barbecue sauce Using herbs, spices, or lemon
> Eating all of the meat product Eating a 2 to 3 oz serving of meat
> (which is about the size of a deck of cards). Trim fat from meat, and
> remove skin from chicken.
> Eating egg yolks Eating egg whites or egg substitutes
>
> Additional tips for reducing fat in recipes
>
> Reduce the amount of fat in the recipe by half (this can often be done
> without having a major effect on the final product).
> Use nonstick pans and nonstick cooking sprays to cut down on the amount
> of fat used in cooking.
> When stir-frying, use a small amount of oil. If foods begin to stick,
> use water, wine, broth, or tomato juice to add moisture rather than
> adding more oil or other fat.
> When making pies, omit the high-fat pastry crusts or choose a
> reduced-fat version, such as a graham cracker crust.
> Experiment with herbs, spices, or even lemon to add flavor to low-fat foods.
>
> Source : The Dallas Morning News Recipe Of The Day Mailer
>
