Compass is a non-branded, patient support program for patients taking Juxtapid, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals’ treatment for a rare cardiovascular disorder. Patients on the drug must adhere to a strict dietary regimen. I developed a variety of materials, including quarterly magazines, monthly emails, and monthly shipping inserts for Compass. The materials featured recipes, diet strategies, interviews with patients, and tips for healthy living.

Test Your Knowledge of Total Fat in Foods
While some fats were traditionally considered “heart healthy,” it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re right for you. All fats are the same on your Compass low-fat eating plan. Test your knowledge of total fat with this quick quiz. You may be surprised by some of the answers.

1. An Italian or balsamic vinaigrette is a good low-fat salad dressing option when dining out: True or False?

Answer: False

While balsamic and Italian salad dressings have less total fat than creamy dressings, they are still very high in fat. Compare the total grams of fat in the following 2-tablespoon portions:
Italian dressing (8.5g), Balsamic vinaigrette (9g), Blue cheese (15g), Ranch dressing (16g), Caesar dressing (17g), Thousand Island (11g), French dressing (14g). Consider taking your own fat-free dressing to the restaurant (individual packets are available in some stores or online), or use fresh lemon or flavored vinegar.

2. Steamed or boiled shellfish, like crab, shrimp, lobster, and clams have fewer than 5 grams of fat. True or False?

Answer: True
All shellfish contain 3 or fewer grams of total fat per 4-ounce raw portion.