Apr 11, 2004 19:01
20 yrs ago
6 viewers *
English term
Germany
Engineer, sworn translator DE PT
Native in: Portuguese 
Works in: Dutch to Portuguese, English to Portuguese, French to Portuguese, and 2 more.
diet/light
English
Other
Cooking / Culinary
recipes
What's the difference exactly between "light recipes" and "diet recipes"?
Responses
+12
59 mins
Michele Johnson
Germany
Germany
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Germany
American engineer, Dip. Trans IOL, BDÜ
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
minimal difference, BUT... (note on usage)
I basically agree with everyone in that
- the phrases are often used interchangeably
- there are some (US) FDA definitions of what constitutes "light", "reduced-calorie", etc.
That said, my impression is that "diet ____" as a phrase is pretty "out" in the English language. Note the shift (at least in Europe) for instance from Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi to Coke Light/Pepsi Light (or even Pepsi One). If you are translating e.g. a book of recipes, I would not use the phrase "diet recipes"; sounds very institutional. Granted, it is largely a euphemism, but I feel "light" sounds much more asthetically pleasing today than "diet".
- the phrases are often used interchangeably
- there are some (US) FDA definitions of what constitutes "light", "reduced-calorie", etc.
That said, my impression is that "diet ____" as a phrase is pretty "out" in the English language. Note the shift (at least in Europe) for instance from Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi to Coke Light/Pepsi Light (or even Pepsi One). If you are translating e.g. a book of recipes, I would not use the phrase "diet recipes"; sounds very institutional. Granted, it is largely a euphemism, but I feel "light" sounds much more asthetically pleasing today than "diet".
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you for all suggestions and comments. Michele, you note on usage was great!"
+2
30 mins
Marian Greenfield
Native in English
&
English
Over 30 years in financial translation
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
none
light can mean reduced anything (salt, fat, calories,), it is often spelled lite.
diet has any of the same meanings.
diet has any of the same meanings.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Nancy Arrowsmith
: light often has no fat, but a lot of sugar, is not always consistent
3 mins
|
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
1 hr
|
+2
35 mins
Margaret Schroeder
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Mexico
The right words in the right place.
Native in: English (Variants: Canadian, US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
special diet/low-calorie(or fat)
As Marion rightly says, they are usually interchangeable. However, in certain contexts, "diet" could refer to a recipe or food that complies with a specific special diet which is not necessary low-calorie or low fat, but rather has to meet some other requirement. Examples might be recipes or foods for a lactose-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, or yeast-free diet.
40 mins
Penelope Ausejo
Spain
Spain
Works in field
Spain
Marketing, Business, IT & Autism
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish
regulation
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration in the US) says that in order to claim that if something is light then you can be assured that:
for foods deriving more than 50 percent of calories from fat, the light product is reduced in fat by at least 50 percent; or for foods deriving less than 50 percent of calories from fat, .... (see link)
http://home.comcast.net/~bkrentzman/nutrition/food.label.cla...
I have found no regulation for diet.
I'm gonna keep on searching...
for foods deriving more than 50 percent of calories from fat, the light product is reduced in fat by at least 50 percent; or for foods deriving less than 50 percent of calories from fat, .... (see link)
http://home.comcast.net/~bkrentzman/nutrition/food.label.cla...
I have found no regulation for diet.
I'm gonna keep on searching...
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