‘Low-cal’ foods are everywhere, but if you pick the wrong ones you could end up fatter.

LOW& BEHOLD  Here are some which are worthwhile and those that aren't WORTH BUYING Diet drinks  A standard can of cola has around seven teaspoons of sugar and about 130 calories. By comparison, artificially sweetened versions are virtually calorie and sugar-free, so there's really no contest if you're watching your weight. But it's worth remembering that additive-free water is still the healthiest drink.  Low-fat spreads  Fats you spread on bread make up a significant proportion of the total fat in the average diet, so choosing a low-fat one is a very easy way to make a significant impact on how much fat you eat.  Skimmed milk  If you consume half a pint of milk daily you can cut your saturated fat intake by 6.5g daily (one-third of the daily maximum recommended for women) by swapping from full fat to skimmed. Choosing semiskimmed instead gives a 2.3g reduction. MAYBE WORTH IT Reduced fat crisps  These have a third less fat than the standard ones, but with more than 20 per cent fat they are still a high-fat food.  Healthy ready meals  These can be a good bet if you want convenience and low calories. But you can find healthy meals in the standard ranges too. As a guide, look for those that have less than 20g fat and 5g saturated fat and fewer than 400 cals. Better, do yourself a quick chicken and veg stir fry which can be ready in virtually the same time as a microwave meal.  Low-fat sausages  If you love sausages these represent a much healthier choice. But they are still high in fat compared with lean meat. Have them no more than once a week.LEAVE ON THE SHELF Diet yoghurts  Diet yoghurt is likely to be loaded with artificial sweeteners, starch and gelatine. Natural yogurt with added ripe, sweet fruit is healthier, tastier and no higher in calories.  Reduced-fat biscuits  Although reduced-fat biscuits contain 25 per cent less fat, their sugar content is higher, and the overall calorie saving per biscuit is too marginal to bother about. A reduced fat digestive has only four calories fewer than a full fat one for example. — DAILY MIRROR