1. Spreads.
Margarine - it's loaded with trans fats and
saturated fats, both of which can lead to heart disease.
Tip: Look for soft-tub margarine, because it is less likely to have
trans fat. Some margarines already say that on the packaging.
2. Packaged foods.
Cake mixes, Bisquick, and other mixes all have several grams of trans
fat per serving.
Tip: Add flour and baking powder to
your grocery list; do-it-yourself baking is about your only option
right now.
3. Soups. Ramen
noodles and soup cups contain very high levels of trans fat.
Tip: Get out the crock-pot and recipe book. Or try the
fat-free and reduced-fat canned soups.
4. Fast Food. Bad
news here: Fries, chicken, and other foods are deep-fried in
partially hydrogenated oil. Even if the chains use liquid oil, fries
are sometimes partially fried in trans fat before they're shipped to
the restaurant. Pancakes and grilled sandwiches also have some trans
fat, from margarine slathered on the grill. Tip:
Order your meat broiled or baked. Skip the pie. Forget the biscuit.
Skip the fries -- or share them with many friends.
5. Frozen Food.
Those yummy frozen pies, pot pies, waffles, pizzas, even breaded fish
sticks contain trans fat. Even if the label says it's low-fat, it
still has trans fat. Tip:
In frozen foods, baked is always heart-healthier than breaded. Even
vegetable pizzas aren't flawless; they likely have trans fat in the
dough. Pot pies are often loaded with too much saturated fat, even if
they have no trans fat, so forget about it.

6. Baked Goods.
Even worse news -- more trans fats are used in commercially baked
products than any other foods. Doughnuts contain shortening in the
dough and are cooked in trans fat. Cookies and cakes (with
shortening-based frostings) from supermarket bakeries have plenty of
trans fat.
Tip: Get back to old-fashioned home cooking again.

7. Chips and Crackers.
Shortening provides crispy texture. Even "reduced fat"
brands can still have trans fat. Anything fried (like potato chips and
corn chips) or buttery crackers have trans fat.
Tip:
Think pretzels, toast, pita bread.
8. Breakfast food.
Breakfast cereal and energy bars are quick-fix, highly processed
products that contain trans fats, even those that claim to be
"healthy."
Tip:
Whole-wheat toast, bagels, and many cereals don't have much fat.
Cereals with nuts do contain fat, but it's healthy fat.
9. Cookies and Candy.
Look at the labels; some have higher fat content than
others.
A chocolate bar with nuts -- or a cookie -- is likely to have more
trans fat than gummy bears.
Tip: Gummy bears or jelly beans win,
hands down. If you must have chocolate, get dark chocolate -- since
it's been shown to have redeeming heart-healthy virtues.
10. Toppings and Dips.
Nondairy creamers and flavored coffees, whipped toppings, bean dips,
gravy mixes, and salad dressings contain lots of trans fat.
Tip: Use skim milk or powdered nonfat dry milk in coffee. Keep
an eye out for fat-free products of all types. As for salad dressings,
choose fat-free there, too -- or opt for old-fashioned oil-and-vinegar
dressing. Natural oils such as olive oil and canola oil don't contain
trans fat. |