Ah, the 80s: leg warmers, big hair and fat-free everything…

40 years later, the legacy of fat-free foods lives on, but now with the sneaking suspicion that they’re not all they were cracked up to be.

Clients often tell me they avoid the low fat or fat-free versions of certain foods because they contain lots of sugar, and this is definitely the case for some products.

Things like salad dressings, mayonnaise, reduced fat cakes/biscuits/cereal bars and yoghurts can have loads of sugar added to make them taste better after the fat has been taken out.

But, other lower fat options have no added sugar and are a great way to reduce calories if you want to. 

On the yoghurt side, Skyr, Kvarg and 0% Greek yoghurt might not have quite the rich texture of the full fat alternatives, but have a great protein content and are delicious with lovely berries, seeds and bananas.

Cottage cheese is another fat-free delight (especially the one with onion and chives), and is a brilliant addition to salads or jacket potatoes.

And for breakfast, keep an eye on the sugar content of your low-fat granola. You can really easily make a healthy version at home, or go for oats with a bit of cinnamon.

Fat-free doesn’t have to be joy-free – just check the label for the secret sugar!