Tips
- When buying margarine, use the Nutrition Facts table to compare how much saturated and trans fats it contains. Choose a soft margarine that has 2 grams or less of saturated and trans fats combined in the Nutrition Facts table.
- In recipes, replace saturated fats (shortening, butter, stick (hard) margarine, lard or beef tallow) with oil or soft margarine which is low in saturated and trans fats.
- Instead of buttering bread or rolls, try serving them with balsamic vinegar and olive oil for dipping.
- Use a small amount of oil to saut or stir-fry foods rather than deep-frying in oil. Deep-frying uses a large amount of oil, which is soaked up by the foods. It increases the overall calorie content of foods.
- Include a small amount, 30 to 45 mL (2 to 3 tbsp), of unsaturated fat each day. This includes oil used for cooking, salad dressings, margarine and mayonnaise.
- Use vegetable oils such as canola, olive and soybean.
- Choose soft margarines that are low in saturated and trans fats. Limit butter, hard margarine, lard, and shortening.
Top Tips:
Did You know?
Remember that losing more than two pounds a week can be detrimental to your health. Be patient. The slower you lose weight, the more likely you will keep it off.

