Does low fat or fat free mean zero calories?

If a product states that it is low in fat or fat free, does this guarantee that it contains less or no calories that the same size portion of the full-fat product?

According to Medicinenet, a low-fat or fat-free food is often lower in calories than the same size portion of the full-fat product . However, it is important to remember that many processed low-fat or fat-free foods may have just as many (or even more!) calories.

Added calories

Processed foods may contain added sugar, flour, or starch thickeners. These ingredients are usually used to improve flavour and texture once the fat is removed, and thus add calories to the product.

Read labels

So what can help us make a decision on which products to purchase?

Read food labels. The nutritional facts section on a product’s box or packaging will reflect how many calories are contained in a single serving of the food. 

At the same time, check what the serving size is as well - you may find that it may be far less than the amount that you are currently eating.

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