Here are steps you can take to lower the fat in your diet, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Senior Health website.

• Choose seafood, lean poultry (with the skin removed) or lean cuts of meat.
• Trim off any extra fat before cooking.
• Limit whole dairy products. Use low-fat or fat-free dairy products and salad dressings.
• Use non-stick pots and pans, and cook without added fat.
• If you currently use butter or other saturated fats, switch to unsaturated vegetable oil or a nonfat cooking spray instead.
• Broil, roast, bake, stir-fry, steam, microwave or boil foods. Avoid frying them.
• Season your foods with lemon juice, herbs or spices instead of butter.

Find more answers to your nutrition questions at Eating Well as You Get Older.

This information was developed for NIHSeniorHealth by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).