News ‘Bite’: National Nutrition Month®

March is National Nutrition Month®, an annual campaign by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that invites the public to make informed food choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits.

On the top of the list when it comes to a healthy diet is fat. So how does one distinguish between a “good fat” and a “bad fat”? Mindy Haar, Ph.D., chair and clinical associate professor of interdisciplinary health sciences, sets the record straight.  

“Some time ago, fat was the big villain, and trying to eat as low-fat of a diet is what people were striving for. What we recognize now, is that it’s not about the total amount of fat, it’s about the type of fat you eat,” says Haar, who is also a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  

She notes the benefits of ‘good fats,’ such as those found in nuts, seeds, and avocado, which may help protect the body from heart disease. While others have been quick to deem coconut oil as a healthy fat, Haar is not so quick to jump on the bandwagon. View the below video to find out why.