1700 Calorie Low Fat Diet

A 1700-calorie low-fat diet is a reasonable goal for people who want to lose weight. You can satisfy your hunger and still drop pounds.

Why a 1700-Calorie Low Fat Diet?

Eating fewer calories is one side of the basic “lose weight” equation. The other side is to exercise more, but many people start with lowering the number of calories consumed. A pound of fat is the equivalent of about 4,000 calories eaten but not burned off through exercise or normal daily activity. The average American eats close to 2500 calories per day. Under ideal circumstances, then, most people would lose a pound every five days on a 1700-calorie low-fat diet.

Some health reasons dictate such as strict plan as well. Digestive problems can be the result of too little fiber or too much fat going through the digestive tract. Doctors for patients with various digestive conditions may suggest trying to cut down on calories to reduce weight or to stay healthier in general.

Dangers of this Type of Diet

Though 1700 calories will speed weight loss and can be done easily for people who already stick to a 2000-calorie meal plan, there are some documented dangers involved with sudden, drastic reduction of calories, particularly diet plans with little to no fat. Several studies published in U.S.-based peer-reviewed journals, including a study of 1970s patients indicated a string of heart-related arrhythmias and even death in conjunction with extremely low-fat diets.

In addition, a 1998 study that several Italian physicians conducted found that obese people who dropped to a very low-calorie diet faced increased risk of gallstones and the increased likelihood that those gallstones would become mobile and cause damage. Before undertaking this type of diet plan, consult a healthcare provider to make sure that you are healthy enough to begin the plan.

Foods Available on a 1700-Calorie Low-Fat Diet

Veggies are tasty and low-fat.

Though eating only 1700 calories a day may seem intimidating, the key to doing well on this type of diet is to make low-calorie choices throughout the day. A medium apple has only about 45 calories and six grams of fiber. Eating an apple in the afternoon is a great way to hold yourself over until dinner and get a pick-me-up for the afternoon slumps.

Choosing low-calorie meals that combine fat (unsaturated), carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables will give you a full meal at each sitting without loading up the calories. The percentage of your food that will need to come from each of the major food groups remains the same. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that no more than 20 percent of calories should be from fat, for example. For a 2500-calorie diet, that would permit 500 calories, or about 55 grams of fat per day. That number decreases to 340 calories and 37 grams of fat on the 1700-calorie diet.

Sample Breakfast

This breakfast fits in with the criteria for a balanced diet. It has fruits and whole grains as well as a source of protein.

1 medium banana 1 whole wheat bagel with 2 tbsp peanut butter 1 cup fat free milk

This meal has 493 calories. It leaves 1207 calories for snacks and two additional meals. You could eliminate 85 additional calories by cutting the amount of peanut butter in half, or by 97 calories by eating only half the bagel.

Free Foods

Eating “free foods” are a great way to feel full on a low-calorie diet. Though sorting through the information out there about low-fat foods can be overwhelming, these free food choices are standard. You can eat as much of these foods as you would like because they have either no calories or very few per serving.

• Asparagus
• Bamboo Shoots
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Grapefruit
• Melon
• Olives
• Pumpkin
• Romaine Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Watercress

Getting Started

Begin by tossing everything that is not low-calorie and low-fat from your pantry. Then stock up on foods that fit the bill. While fresh is best, modern lives infrequently leave the time to cook from scratch. Using canned or fresh frozen can work, too. By keeping these foods in your home, you will be more likely to pull them from the cabinet and whip up a quick dinner than stop for fast food on the way home.

Here are some of the foods you should stock in your pantry.

• Pasta of all shapes and sizes
• Brown rice
• Dried and canned beans
• Canned tomatoes
• Canned fruit (packed in water only)
• Spices, spices, spices
• Low-Fat oils, such as extra-virgin olive oil
• Pretzels
• Air-popped popcorn