The American Heart Association urges the consumption of high-fat foods in limited amounts. Many high-fat foods are convenient and easily available. With the busy lives many people lead, it is easy to stop at a fast food restaurant or grab a bagel or doughnut for breakfast. Unfortunately, many of these tasty treats are loaded with unhealthy fats that can cause obesity and disease. It is important to know which foods are high in fat so that you can make healthy decisions.
Meats
Some meats are high in fat. Typically, high-fat meats have visible fat and skin on them. One serving of high-fat meat equals 8g or more of fat. Some examples are beef, bacon, hot dogs, bologna, sausage and pork.
Butter
The HealthCastle website explains that 1 tbsp. of butter contains 11g of total fat. Butter is essentially fat formed in the shape of a stick or whipped into a tub. Butter contains saturated fat, which is known to raise blood cholesterol.
Full-Fat Dairy Products
The UK's Food Standards Agency says that while dairy products can be a good source of vitamins and minerals, whole milk products are high in saturated fat. Some high fat dairy products include yogurt, cheese, cream, cottage cheese and milk. Most types of cheese have 20 to 40g of fat per 100g.
Fried Food
As Discovery Health explains, foods that are fried are typically high in fat because they are breaded and then cooked in fat or oils. Types of fried foods can include chicken, french fries, donuts and fast food. Many of these fried foods contain trans fat, a type of fat that is designed to preserve products. A large order of french fries at McDonald's weighs in at a whopping 25g of fat.
Processed Grain
Processed grain foods, like pastries, cookies, cakes, crackers, pies and muffins are all high in fat. This is typically because they are made with hydrogenated or saturated fat. Avoid these types of food to keep your diet heart-healthy. The HealthCentral website says that the average sized donut, about 2.5 oz., has about 17g of fat in it.
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