I found a very interesting example of someone's diet when reading through dietician Karen Protheroe's book entitled "The Lean Aubergine". This client had visited Karen since she was struggling to lose weight and yet was convinced that she was making healthy dietary choices. Here is a typical day's intake.

AN AVERAGE DAY

(FAT CONTENT (g))

Breakfast

1 cup crunchy muesli (22.6)
1 cup 2% milk (4.8)

1 cup coffee with 2% milk & sweetener (1.4)
1 muesli rusk (5)

2 slices whole-wheat bread (1.5)
cheese & margarine for sandwich (21.5)
tomato for sandwich (0)
1 small tub (175ml) low-fat yoghurt (1.9)
1 banana (0)

2 cups home-made popcorn (7)
2 cups coffee with 2% milk & sweetener (2.9)
1 health bar (e.g. yoghurt or seed bar) (17.4)

90g roast chicken (12.2)
2 tbsp. gravy (15.6)
1 medium baked potato (0.1)
butter on potato (8.2)
cauliflower cheese (9.9)
Greek salad with French dressing (19.3)
¼ avocado (5.8)

3 bran biscuits (8.9)
½ cup nuts (4.1)
2 cups coffee with 2% milk & sweetener (2.9)

Extracted from registered dietician Karen Protheroe's book, entitled "The Lean Aubergine".

How does your diet rate compared to this? Most people should strive to take in between 40 to 70g of fat per day, with only 4 - 7g of this fat coming from saturated fats - no more.

Yet on analysis of this diet, the client was found to be consuming far in excess of her daily fat requirement, hence her weight problem. From the table above, it is clear to see what foods should have been avoided.