What Are the Types of Fats?
To help you figure out how to size up fat in your child’s diet, here’s a look at the three major types: Unsaturated fats: Found in plant foods and fish, these fats are seen as neutral or even beneficial to heart health. The best of the unsaturated fats are: monounsaturated, found in avocados and olive, peanut, and canola oils polyunsaturated, found in most vegetable oils omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish such as albacore tuna and salmon Saturated fats: Found in meat and other animal products, such as butter, shortening, lard, cheese, and milk (except skim or nonfat), saturated fats are also in palm and coconut oils, which are often used in commercial baked goods. Eating too much saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. Trans fats: Found in margarine (especially the sticks), commercial snack foods and baked goods, and some commercially fried foods, trans fats (also called trans fatty acids) are created when vegetable oils are hydroge
