What are good and bad fats for kids. You may wonder what fats do and what are its kinds or types. By definition there are dietary fats which are essential macronutrients composed of glycerol and fatty acids.

Never confuse it as body fats! There are fats (different kinds/types) inside the body (STORED) and there are also fats you consume (FOOD) as part of your diet. This topic is all about dietary fats.

Chemically speaking, they are hydrophobic, oily, or greasy substances that do not dissolve in water assisting in nutrient absorption (vitamins A, D, E, K) and build cell membranes. Whereas a body fat is something you can pinch or those inside the body protecting organs.

Now, what are body fats in reality? Never get confused between dietary fats and body fats!

Body fats provide insulation such as subcutaneous and visceral that protect organs, and acts as an energy reserve. On the other hand, dietary fats are nutrients in food (saturated, unsaturated, trans) that aid in nutrient absorption and cell structure.

So, you will find out what are these good and bad DIETARY FATS below!

What are good and bad fats for kids

The “Good” Fats: Unsaturated Fats, the “Bad” Fats: Trans and Saturated Fats are one of the interesting facts unknown to your kids, teens, and even adults. You might only aware that fats are those you pinch in your belly, but no these are beyond that.

Olive oil (extra virgin preferred), canola oil, peanut oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, avocados, olives, almonds, cashews, pecans, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, peanut butter, almond butter, salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, trout, tuna, flaxseed (ground), flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans, hemp seeds, Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil are some of the GOOD or HEALTHY DIETARY FATS!

Cookies, cakes, crackers, and doughnuts, french fries, fried chicken, stick margarine & shortening, fatty cuts of meat like beef, lamb, and pork, poultry skin, processed meats, full-fat dairy, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, pastries and biscuits, burgers, tacos, pizzas, potato chips, snack cakes, creamy sauces and dips are some of the UNHEALTHY or BAD DIETARY FATS.

TIPS AND WARNINGS:

• Body fats (stored) and dietary fats (foods) are technically different.
• Fats came from the term lipid from the Greek lipos, and “adipose tissue,” meaning “animal fat” or “grease”.
• Never be confused about dietary and body fats.
• Too much of anything is not good.
• Go to any urgent care if you need more information about fats and how to diagnose or check if you eat bad fats.
• Unsaturated fats are good, while trans fats and saturated fats are bad.
• Saturated and trans fats raise the level of “bad” cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in your blood leading to heart disease and stroke.