We have been taught by society of late that fat is a bad thing, unhealthy and is causing America to be overweight. We have to check the labels on our foods when we go out to eat now, affecting the enjoyment of the meal. We understand that cooking at home is healthier (yes, you get to chose the ingredients and know what goes into everything), or at least potentially healthier. To be healthy, we need to choose healthy ingredients. Shopping for “low fat” foods makes shopping a bigger chore.

Fats, not the food with which they are made, but the fats themselves can be found in three basic locations as one weaves up and down the grocery aisles. The aisle that has the vegetable oil has several oils that are made from various sources such as safflower, peanut, canola, olive, and corn. A major differentiation between oil and fat is if it is solid or liquid at room temperature.

The dairy section has its fats found in butter, made from cream, and margarine, made from vegetable oil. The third section, the meat section, has, you got it—meat! The layer of white solid stuff seen on meat is the fat. It is sometimes trimmed off by the butcher prior to presentation for purchase.