The emphasis for February in the HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES Initiative is on lipids or fats. To be “LESS OF OURSELVES IN 2012”, we must reduce the intake of fats. One of the reasons why is because unlike proteins and carbohydrates which contain 4 calories per gram, lipid or fats contain 9 calories per gram.  So it’s easy to see why eating lipid laden food would sabotage a weight management program. Consider the increase in calories of the following foods:

    1 medium baked potato – 161 calories       
    1 medium French fries – 487 calories
    1 cup okra – 31 calories      
    1 cup fried okra – 600 calories
    1 slice whole wheat bread – 69 calories       
    1 slice WW bread with margarine – 169 calories

Therefore it’s easy to understand from the above examples how eliminating fried foods and added fat will reduce ones waist line. So why not try it this week. Reduce the use of added fats in the form of margarine, oils and fried food by at least 50%! It will not affect the taste of your foods but it will affect your health in positive ways.