Fat-free vs. low-fat vs. regular baking

[tobetinytina]

I'm very confused. I don't know anymore what is the best choice for me when it comes to baking treats. I know that I shouldn't eat them all the time or anything, but what is actually better for me? Should I go fat-free, low-fat, or just use regular ingredients for baking? Is there one that is actually healthier than the others?

[legendarytroy]

Personally, I just stick with regular baking products and just eat fewer treats. I think the trouble with using low-fat or fat-free products isn't just the fact that they will alter the way a recipe comes out and how it tastes, but many people seem to think that using products that are lower in fat or fat-free means that you can eat more of it. So they use it as an excuse to consume more junk, which really isn't all that better for them in the grand scheme of things.

[madscientist]

When you can, I'd go with low-fat ingredients. That said, this doesn't mean that you should eat more of what you bake. You still need to watch your portion size. As legendarytroy pointed out, going fat-free or low-fat doesn't mean that you can eat more of something cause if you do, you're sort of negating the benefits of these products.

[Mike]

I would just bake with what you usually like to bake with, whether it's low-fat, fat-free or not. You should enjoy your treats, just enjoy them in moderation. There are so many other ways that you can make better and more healthful food choices in your everyday eating. Keep treats infrequent but keep them as you like them and you'll never feel like your depriving yourself of anything!

[CuJo1992]

I agree that you should use whatever you want, but remember that stuff that low in fat for fat-free usually has some catch to it. In my experience, I've noticed that low-fat stuff tends to be higher in sugar than the regular stuff. If they're taking something out of a product, usually they're adding something back in so that there is flavor. So going fat-free and low-fat may not always be the best choice in every situation. You still need to pay attention to what is going in your food?

[tobetinytina]

Thanks for all your opinions. I think I'm going to stick with low-fat ingredients. I still think this may be the best way to go as long as it doesn't alter the taste of my foods too much. I'm still a believer that low-fat is better than full fat, but I do agree that low-fat doesn't mean you can eat more. That just negates the benefits.