🥑 Fat-Free? Not For Me. 🥑

“Fat-free” might sound like a good idea but fat is something not to be avoided, even if you’re trying to lose weight. Your body needs fat, particularly healthy fat so if you avoid fat altogether, your skin and hair and nails will pay the price. Worse than that, there are many reasons why healthy fat is essential in your diet.

• Some important vitamins require fat to be absorbed by your body. (vitamins A, D, E, and K)
• Your brain needs fat to function at its fullest. (Omega-3 fats from salmon, sardines  & walnuts are best for the brain.)
• Consuming healthy fat helps prevent chronic inflammation, which can lead to many diseases like some cancers, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and Alzheimer’s.
• If you avoid fat, your skin will be dry, more prone to pimples & blackheads, and you’ll have more wrinkles.

All I’m saying is fat is good, but only the good kind. Here is a basic guide:

FOODS WITH UNHEALTHY FATS:

• Bacon, hot dogs, sausages, and pepperoni… you know… the things we all love! ☹️
• Ham, salami, and other deli meats.
• Cheese, especially soft cheeses like Brie. The harder the cheese, the healthier.
• Anything deep fried, batter fried or French fried. 🍟 I know. I love French fries too… but I love me more. ❤️
• Chicken wings are at the top of the bad list. Don’t eat poultry skin.
• Check ingredients in processed foods. Avoid palm oil and all partially hydrogenated oils.

FOODS WITH HEALTHY FATS:

• Olive oil 🫒
• Avocados 🥑
• Nuts, with best being walnuts, almonds, and cashews. (I have almond butter sandwiches all the time – yummy & healthy!)
• Fish, primarily fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel. (Salmon sandwiches, anyone? Yes!)

It’s not hard to incorporate good fats into your meals.

• I eat salmon sandwiches and almond butter & jam sandwiches all the time.
• I cook salmon, too.
• My salad dressing is always homemade and olive oil based and I often add avocados to salads.
• I always keep containers of raw nuts in the fridge for snacking.

If you’re still not convinced, maybe my poem will help…

Fat is good. Fat is fine.
Eat healthy fat like I eat mine.

Why not give sardines a whirl?
You just might like them. You might not hurl. 🤮

Walnuts, olive oil, salmon too.
Bacon and ham? Not good for you.

Eat healthy fat, I’m saying it twice,
Or eat more bacon and roll the dice. 🥓 🎲