Just Say NO! To Trans Fats

I know I already posted about the differences among the three main types of fats (unsaturated, saturated, trans). And for some of you, that post was somewhat of a wake-up call with regard to the food you were keeping in your cabinet. Well, I've got a bit more insight on the matter. Actually, I can't take all the credit. One of the volunteer nutrition instructors with whom I work found this awesome list and after she shared it in class I knew that I just HAD to share it with you all: Top 10 Surprising Foods That Contain Trans Fats. This list may make your efforts to eat healthier a tad bit easier. Sure, you still need to read the ingredient lists of the foods you buy (remember the trigger word: hydrogenated = no good); but this pre-compiled list of foods will help you avoid having to pick up the box in the first place. 


Now, ultimately the decision to eat foods with trans fats is your choice and there is nothing I can do to stop you. But there are other healthier options than the highly processed junk that usually contains trans fat. So I've included those "better choices". Obviously the best choice is to make all your food from scratch, such as homemade granola bars. Though it may take a bit of time to make something like granola bars, there are certain "junk food" items that can be easily and quickly prepared at home, with no cost to your health (i.e. homemade popcorn). Consider what items you do or do not have time to make at home, and for the items that you need to buy pre-made, just be sure to read the labels!


Here we have the Top 10 (Top 12 actually, because I added two more) Most Surprising Foods That Contain Trans Fat. With this list I hereby give you the ability to just say NO! to trans fats and YES! to better choices: 


1. Breakfast Cereals: Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Pebbles, Basic 4, Rice Krispies Treats Cereal, Fruit Loops, Oreo O's, Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Smorz, Eggo Cereal Maple Syrup, Mini-Swirlz Cinnamon Bun, Waffle Crisps
   Better Choice: Oatmeal. But if you need your cereal & milk, some low-sugar options are Cheerios (plain), Grape Nuts, Shredded Wheat, Wheat Chex, Kix, Wheaties, Total


2. Quaker Oats Chewy Granola Bars
    Better Choice: Nature's Valley Granola Bars


3. Saltine Crackers: Nabisco & Keebler brand
    Better Choice: First of all, ew. Who eats saltine crackers anyways (aside from trying to do the saltine challenge - 60 seconds to eat 6 saltines without water)? Second, if you're some sort of freak who actually likes the taste of saltines, then go for Goldfish Saltine Flavor


4. Special K weight loss items: protein snack bars, protein meal bars, bliss bars, cereal bars, snack bites
   Better Choice: Honestly, just put some cereal in a Ziploc baggie and munch away! But, if you psychologically need a bar in your hand rather than a baggie, then try Lara Bars, Clif Bars, or Kashi Granola Bars


5. Girl Scout Cookies
   Better Choice: I've yet to find a recipe for homemade Thin Mints...so, for the time being, spend the extra dollar and get some sweet treats from a local bakery (or bake a batch of cookies yourself!)


6. Popcorn: PopSecret, Herr's, and Frito-Lay. 
   Better Choice: Make.It.Yourself. Seriously, homemade popcorn is SO easy to make and way cheaper than the store-bought crap. Get a brown paper bag, put some popcorn kernels in the bag, and voila! homemade-microwave-popcorn!


7. Animal Crackers: Barnum's and Stauffer's
   Better Choice: I know for a fact that Trader Joe's makes animal crackers that do not contain hydrogenated oils. Likewise the organic store brand variety found at large grocery stores (i.e. Stop & Shop, Giant, Shaws) most likely does not contain hydrogenated oils either


8. Fig Newtons
   Better Choice: Fig Newman's (Newman's Own Organics Cookies)


9. Ritz Crackers
   Better Choice: Club & Keebler (both Nabisco brands) do not contain hydrogenated oils. However, they do contain high fructose corn syrup...more on that at a different time. I wouldn't be surprised if Trader Joe's has a butter cracker that does not contain hydrogenated oils, but I cannot confirm


10. Fortune Cookies
   Better Choice: aside from making these yourself, I don't have an alternative. But seriously, fortune cookies aren't that tasty anyways. We all just eat 'em so that we can see what our "fortune" is inside. My advice is to break the cookie open, read your fortune, then leave the cookie uneaten and treat yourself to some green tea ice cream or mochi instead


11. Doritos
   Better Choice: SunChips 


12. Peanut Butter: JIF & Skippy (excluding their "natural" brand)
   Better Choice: All natural peanut butter, such as Teddie's. Yes, there is a thin layer of oil at the top of the jar that needs to be mixed into the rest of the peanut butter. Yes, that is an extra 30 seconds of work for you. My trick: flip the jar upside down (lid on) in your pantry and keep it that way for a few hours. The oil naturally mixes into the rest of the peanut butter.


What are your thoughts on this list? Shocked? Not surprised? Ready to throw away half the food in your pantry?