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    5 Comfort Foods That Fight Fat

    Are you trying to slim down just in time for the summer months? You'd be surprised at what foods you can still eat.

    Macaroni and Cheese


    Yes, we can still indulge in this cheesy delight. Use low-fat milk instead of whole milk. Reduce the amount of butter or cut it out completely. Substitute cornstarch for flour and cut back on the amount of cheese. You'll still get all the taste, but with fewer calories.

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    New York Cheesecake

    This delicious dessert can be made in a reduced fat version without sacrificing flavor. Just use nonfat cream cheese and nonfat sour cream in place of the full-strength ingredients. Voila, you have a low-fat comfort dessert! Here's exactly how to do it, from www.cookeatshare.com.

    Dark Chocolate

    This ranks high on just about everybody's list of comfort foods , and it can help you fight fat. According to research from the University of Copenhagen, compounds in chocolate slow down digestion and make you feel full longer. A small piece of chocolate, about the size of a business card, can help you eat less at your next meal. It can also curb your cravings for salty, sweet and fatty foods. For maximum benefit, pick chocolate with a cacao content of 65 percent or more.

    Oatmeal

    A great way to start the day with one of the best comfort foods that is also so very good for you. Buy sugar -free oatmeal, sweeten it with stevia and add a small amount of raisins or other dried fruit. Top with some cinnamon and you have a delicious, filling, low-fat bowl of comfort.

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    Pasta

    Sophia Loren purportedly claimed "everything you see, I owe to spaghetti." Whether or not she did say that, the fact remains she still has a sensational figure and, being brought up in Italy,she probably did eat a lot of pasta! Analysis by the American Institute of Baking shows that pasta is rich in six minerals, including manganese, iron, phosphorus, copper, magnesium and zinc. Whole grain pasta is even healthier. Instead of a rich, thick, calorie-laden sauce, blend whole tomatoes, garlic, onion and basil, with a chicken stock cube

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