Sneaky Trans fat: long product list here

I was checking out Fiber One granola bars, thinking “I really like that cereal, maybe I could take a box of the bars on the climbing trip next weekend.” But reading the ingredients list, oh shucks, why did you have to spoil them with trans fat? And back on the shelf they went.

Soon after, while holiday shopping at Target, my pal and I decided to grab a bar for a quick snack. Hmmm, I wonder how these Muscle Milk Light bars are…..and sure enough, there it is on the label again! While many companies (Kashi, Nature Valley, Morningstar Farms) are completely trans fat free (and I love you for it!), a lot of big companies still use hydrogenated oils – despite the well known health problems resulting from their consumption. Why? Because they’re cheap, and they have a long shelf life.  Don’t be fooled, read ingredients lists, and don’t buy products with hydrogenated oils. There’s plenty of food out there without these nasty artery cloggers, so do your heart a favor and keep trans fats out of your diet completely if possible.

Most nutrition-savvy people know that stick margarine, fast food, and pie crust are usually laden with trans fat. But even avoiding those obviously unhealthy foods, trans fat can still sneak up on you. Okay, so maybe you wouldn’t eat Froot Loops, but some people might give it to their kids. How about Mueslix and Frosted Mini Wheats though? Those are marketed as healthy. And frozen vegetables? Are you kidding me? Here are some of the surprising places I’ve found trans fat lately.  Got any to add? Let me know and we’ll make the list longer