1. FAT – PART I
Now you can tell them that the guessing game was about the nutrient FAT and learning about the 2 different types of fat.

2. The 4 Characteristics 1. + foods all come from animals.
- foods all come from plants.
2. + foods contain more saturated fat.
- foods contain more unsaturated fat.
3. + foods raise blood cholesterol levels because saturated fat blocks the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol.
- foods maintain or lower blood cholesterol levels.
4. + foods are hardened at room temperature.
- foods remain liquid at room temperature.
Most of the time students will get the animal – plant connection. A few will get 1 or 2 of the other characteristics, but not many!
For point 4, before projecting it, ask what happens to the bacon grease when it sits in the pan for a while. Ask what happens to the olive oil left in a pan at room temperature.

3. EXCEPTIONS TO THE 4 CHARACTERISTICS
Tropical oils (palm and coconut) come from plants but have lots of saturated fat.
Fish like salmon and tuna are animals, but have lots of healthy unsaturated Omega 3 oils.
Margarine is made out of plant oils like corn or safflower. The process of hardening (hydrogenation) changes unsaturated oils to transfatty acids. These are more harmful than saturated fats. Read the labels of packaged bakery goods, chips, and some peanut butters.
There is some controversy about the healthfulness of the saturated fat in coconut oil. We will just have to wait and see what the research comes up with.

4. SATURATED FAT AND HEART HEALTH
Eating the typical American diet high in saturated fat….. Does what to your blood cholesterol level? Raises it. If you have high blood cholesterol level, what may happen to you? Clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke When do cholesterol deposits start happening? In old age or in your teenage years? Teens and sometimes earlier!
If students bring up the fact that some cholesterol in the blood is not the harmful type, for example HDLs or high density lipoproteins are thought to be good, tell them that they will be learning about that later. And they will be talking about the effect of genetics next class, if they question the fact that some people who eat a lot of fat don’t get heart attacks.
Tell students they will be seeing a clip from Diet for a New America to illustrate the above problems. Tell them that there will be some graphic pictures of open heart surgery, blood, and clogged arteries. If they have a weak stomach or faint easily, they should not look. I always hate it when my students faint!

5. SATURATED FAT AND HEART HEALTH
Eating the typical American diet high in saturated fat….. Does what to your blood cholesterol level? Raises it. If you have high blood cholesterol level, what may happen to you? Clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke When do cholesterol deposits start happening? In old age or in your teenage years? Teens and sometimes earlier!
If students bring up the fact that some cholesterol in the blood is not the harmful type, for example HDLs or high density lipoproteins are thought to be good, tell them that they will be learning about that later. And they will be talking about the effect of genetics next class, if they question the fact that some people who eat a lot of fat don’t get heart attacks.
Tell students they will be seeing a clip from Diet for a New America to illustrate the above problems. Tell them that there will be some graphic pictures of open heart surgery, blood, and clogged arteries. If they have a weak stomach or faint easily, they should not look. I always hate it when my students faint!

6. THE HEALTHY SIDE OF FAT!
Fat is an essential nutrient for your body, performing many functions.
It provides a source of concentrated energy, 9 calories per gram. (Protein and carbs only have 4 calories per gram.)
It can be stored efficiently.
It satisfies your appetite and gives flavor to food.
It carries certain vitamins: A, D, E, and K.
It forms a part of your cell structures.
To be sure students don’t think of fat as all bad, talk about the importance of fat in the body.
You would be twice as big if you had to store energy as protein and carbohydrates!
If you don’t eat enough fat, your appetitie may not be satisfied and you may end up eating too many carb calories.
To be sure you are eating a healthy balance of fats, let’s have you evaluate the fat content of your diet.

7. EVALUATION OF THE FAT CONTENT OF YOUR DIET
Examine a typical family dinner.
Label your HIGH FAT ANIMAL FOODS first – HFA. Look for butter, fatty meats like pepperoni, sausage, bacon, hamburger, steak, pork, chicken skin, cheese, ice cream, sour cream, cream cheese, whole and 2% milk or yogurt.
Label your HIGH FAT PLANT FOODS – HFP. Look for vegetable oils, salad dressings, mayonnaise, nuts, avocados, olives.
Label your TRANSFATTY ACIDS – TA. Look for chips, packaged cookies, donuts, cake, piets, muffins, crackers, French fries.
Label your fish with heart healthy OMEGA 3 OILS – O3.

8. FAT EVALUATION Continued
Tally your results.
HFA _____
HFP _____
TF_______
O3______
Do you have 2 or less animal fats?____
Do you have 2 or more plant fats? ____
Do you have 0 trans fatty acids? ______
Do you have at least 1 omega 3 oil? ____
The more “yes” answers you have, the lower your risk of heart disease.
Write a statement about your risk. How could you improve?