Original Microplane® premium hand-held graters are a dieter’s best friend, as these easy to use culinary tools can significantly boost flavor to dishes with virtually zero calories or fat. Here’s a quick overview on how weight loss experts, as well as savvy health-conscious chefs and home cooks wield their Microplane to manage calories without sacrificing taste and satisfaction:

Finely grate the peel of citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits with a Microplane Fine Zester/Grater – available in rasp and paddle-shaped versions – to instantly brighten and ramp up the flavor of savory and sweet dishes with virtually zero calories. Citrus zest, which releases the fruit’s flavorful essential oils, delivers incomparable zing to a wide range of foods, making it possible to replace heavier, calorie-rich ingredients to enhance dishes.

Amplify the flavor of savory dishes by adding low-calorie and fat-free aromatics, such as onions, shallots, garlic and ginger with a Microplane Fine, Ribbon, Coarse or Extra Coarse Grater. Microplane graters make it fast and simple to prep these classic ingredients without needing knife skills. Best of all you can grate aromatics straight into a pot or pan, and then pop the grater in the dishwasher. Use Microplane’s top selling, rasp-style Premium Classic Fine Zester/Grater to create a paste from a clove of garlic or small chunk of ginger that instantly melts and combines with other ingredients. For a more toothsome texture, try a different blade style, such as Ribbon, Coarse or Extra Coarse. For a wider grating surface to accommodate onions, you can reach for Microplane’s paddle-shaped Artisan or Gourmet Series.

Boost the flavor and nutrition profile of beloved comfort foods, such as meatloaf, pasta and casseroles by incorporating fiber-rich, low-calorie vegetables, such as shredded zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, cabbage and celery root. A paddle-shaped Microplane Extra Coarse Grater, or even larger Microplane Gourmet Ultra Coarse Grater shreds all types of tasty vegetables with precision and ease.

Create low-carb “pasta” with garden-fresh vegetables, using a Microplane Ribbon Grater. Zucchini and other squash are transformed into fettuccini-like strips that can be served raw as a highly nutritious and low-calorie substitute to spaghetti.

Indulge a cheese craving without consuming too much fat by finely grating Parmesan and similarly rich-tasting, hard cheeses to top pasta, scrambled eggs, salads, ratatouille, and other savory dishes. Microplane’s extraordinarily sharp graters are famous for turning a small chunk of cheese into a “mountain” of pillow-soft flakes that completely cover a dish, tricking the eye (and stomach) into thinking there’s more to eat.

For information on any of the Microplane products, visit the company’s website: www.microplane.com, or call toll-free 1-800-555-2767