A recent article in Prevention mentioned 'No more than five daily servings of fat.' What exactly is a serving of fat? --Philip Johnson, Kokomo, IN
One serving of fat equals 1 teaspoon. We recommend shooting for no more than five daily servings of added fat. (Think: the oil or butter you use in the pan when cooking.) The catch: Not all of the fat in your diet is added by you. A lot of it comes by way of meat, dairy, and snack foods that aren't built into the suggested five servings.
Confused? Instead of thinking of fat in terms of servings, look at how much fat--added or not--you consume in relation to the rest of your diet. The American Dietetic Association recommends that no more than 30% of your calories come from fat. To help stick to this guideline, aim for 5 teaspoons a day or less of exclusively fat foods, such as trans-free spread or olive oil. And keep tabs on how much fat you're getting from other places: "Buy the leanest cuts of meat, and go fat free or 1% on the dairy," says Jeannie Moloo, PhD, RD, spokesperson for the ADA.
And don't forget, it's healthiest to get the majority of your 30% from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are found in plant and fish sources. These can help prevent heart disease. Saturated and trans fats (found primarily in animal products and packaged foods) may increase your risk, so limit your consumption.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Things have the grams of fat right on the side, its not that hard.