Fiona's Low Fat Cooking Blog

Nothing beats a fresh peach. Juicy and succulent, peaches are certainly one of the highlights of the summer. Peaches are wonderful raw, but they're also something special when they're cooked. This simple dessert of roasted peaches is good enough for company, as well as a nice change for the family. Simply top them with a spoonful of thick, nonfat Greek yogurt and perhaps a drizzle of honey.

_{Roasted Peaches © 2008 Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com}

For a light-hearted look at low-fat eating, look no further than "Eat, Shrink & Be Merry!" by Greta and Janet Podleski, stars of Canada's Food Network, and authors of James Beard award nominee "Crazy Plates." These pun-loving sisters have outdone themselves in the groan-inducing-humor department by producing a cookbook masquerading as a comic book. With 200 or so cartoons accompanying 150 low-fat recipes with appalling titles, such as Life in the Fast Loin, Kebob's Your Uncle and Glad Thai Dings, you might dismiss this cookbook as frivolous, but beneath all the humor lies some sensible advice and some great tips. To find out more, read my review of "Eat, Shrink & Be Merry!"

_{Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! Cover Photo © Granet Publishing, Inc.}

I’ve shown you how to make low-fat burgers using extra-lean ground beef, but if you want an even lower-fat burger, try these low-fat turkey burgers made from extra-lean ground turkey. I’m well aware that extra-lean ground meat can make for a dry burger, but you needn’t settle for one. By adding moistening ingredients and being careful not to overcook them, you can enjoy low-fat turkey burgers that are both flavorful and moist.

_{Low-Fat Turkey Burger and Trimmings © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Quick and easy to prepare, this low fat summer chicken and pasta salad makes a light yet filling lunch or supper on a warm summer's evening. Enjoy with a chilled glass of wine, and a fresh tropical fruit salad for dessert.

More Low Fat Salads

• Shrimp Pasta Salad
• Tuna and Shell Pasta Salad
• Chicken Caesar Salad
• Farfalle With Asparagus and Tomatoes

_{Chicken and Pasta Salad © 2008 Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Is there no French Paradox after all? It seemed that, despite a diet rich in full-fat cheeses, red wine and white bread, the French were slimmer and healthier than their American counterparts. Mireille Guiliano's bestselling book, "French Women Don't Get Fat," explained why French women remained rail thin without any sort of dieting – small portions, variety, savoring food, and moderate exercise (walking), and so on. But it seems all is not well in the republic after all.

More than one-third of France's 60 million people are either overweight or obese. Not that there's any reason for Americans to be smug about this. Two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight or obese. In France, bread, cheese and wine are not to blame, it seems. The government is setting its sights on the fast food industry. Its proposals include raising taxes on high-fat, sugary foods from 5.5 percent to 19.6 percent. This might sound like a good way to regulate people's eating habits, but those who can least afford it are likely to be hit the hardest.

The beauty of phyllo, or filo, dough is that it's low in total fat, has no saturated or trans fat, and contains no cholesterol. This makes phyllo dough a great alternative to regular pastry. It's light, crisp and flaky, and so long as you use butter-flavored cooking spray between layers rather than real melted butter, it's a perfect low fat choice for pies, tarts and, of course, strudels.

Never worked with phyllo dough before? I'll show you how.

Low-Fat Phyllo Dough Recipes

• Pear Cranberry Strudel
• Blackberry and Apple Tart
• Peach Tarts
• Cherry Turnovers

_{Blackberry and Apple Tart © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

You may be trying to eat low fat, but there are some fats you need to include in your diet, especially those found in fish. A new Finnish study published in the journal Neurology found that older people who consumed baked or broiled fish had a lower risk of developing lesions that can lead to memory loss and dementia. Omega 3 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fats found in fish, leafy greens, nuts and seeds, are also thought to protect against heart disease, macular degeneration, inflammation and diabetes. Consequently, omega 3 fatty acids are being added to almost everything from bread to yogurt. Find out more about omega 3 fatty acids.

_{Omega-3-Rich Salmon © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com}

Enjoy this tangy, succulent low-fat chicken and apple salad featuring chunks of cooked chicken breast, crunchy apple and celery, and chewy raisins in a mildly spiced yogurt-based dressing. It’s perfect as a filling for a whole-grain pita sandwich or on top of a bed of romaine and crunchy salad vegetables.

More Low Fat Chicken Salads

• Chicken Caesar Salad
• Southwestern Chicken Salad
• Thai-Style Chicken Salad
• Chicken, Asparagus and Quinoa Salad

_{Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Enjoy this watermelon and tomato salad at room temperature, which apart from bringing out the flavors, is supposed to allow us to enjoy the maximum health benefits from the watermelon. Like tomatoes, watermelon is an excellent source of lycopene, a disease-fighting antioxidant, which is most potent in room-temperature fruit. A small drizzle of heart-healthy olive oil, and a sprinkling of low-fat feta cheese allows us to enjoy a great-tasting salad without much sacrifice.

More Healthy Tomato Salad Recipes

• Tomato Cucumber Salad
• Tomato Salad With Lemon Basil Dressing
• Three Tomato Salad
• Tomato and Asparagus Salad
• Green Bean and Tomato Salad

_{Watermelon and Tomato Salad Photo © 2008 Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

This zucchini and quinoa salad is about as nutritious a salad as you could wish for. Quinoa is a wonderful plant source of protein, as well as a good source of iron, magnesium, fiber, vitamin E and B vitamins. Combined with zucchini and chick peas, or garbanzo beans, you have a healthy and delicious side dish that goes perfectly with some grilled fish or chicken. Quinoa also happens to be gluten free, which makes it a great alternative to couscous and bulgur.

More Low Fat Quinoa Recipes

• Quinoa Pilaf
• Quinoa Salad
• Chicken, Asparagus and Quinoa Salad
• Tomato Quinoa Salad
• Lemon Cilantro Quinoa

_{Zucchini Quinoa Salad Photo © 2008 Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}