A Guide to Good Nutrition - Weight No More

Bonus Foods

Bonus foods are usually "forbidden-on-a-diet" foods like desserts, some snacks, sweets, fats, and alcohol. You can eat these foods and still lose. Just watch the amount that you eat and how often you eat them. There is no reason why people who are watching their weight should be deprived of good taste and things that taste good!

Since you watch your diet for dialysis, you are probably used to including foods in your meals in limited amounts. Using limited amounts of fat and sugar will add flavor in cooking. They can also bring out all the delicious natural flavor in food.

Including some desserts and snacks will help you feel better about your diet. If you don't eat any of these foods, you might feel that your diet is too limited and lacks variety. Don't give up the foods you like, just plan for them in your diet.

Try one of these ideas:

Avoid daily snacks, like chips or cookies, that are high in fat.

At the most, allow yourself to have one small-sized serving of a dessert or sweet in a day. That way you won't feel deprived.

Limit your use of spreads. Use a scant teaspoon of margarine or tablespoon of mayonnaise.

Try dry wines rather than sweet wines or aperitifs. If you have an alcoholic drink, try it straight or on ice rather than mixed with mixers, fruit juices or purees.

Try some low-fat cookies like fig bars or gingersnaps; cakes like angel food cake; frozen desserts like sherbet, sorbet, yogurt, or popsicles.

Try low-fat snacks like plain popcorn flavored with powdered butter sprinkles or try unsalted pretzels.

Use low-calorie or non-fat beverages, like regular or low-calorie carbonated drinks, low-potassium juices, tea, or coffee.

Now use these foods to plan a grocery list so that you will be sure to have some of the low-calorie foods on hand!

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