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Is it just me, or is fat one of the most confusing macronutrients out there, at least if you go by what the media and society says about it?
Depending on who you ask, you might be recommended a super high-fat diet or an extremely low-fat diet. Your friend might tell you to eat more “good fats” while your mom tells you not to eat something because it’s too fattening. But eating fat doesn’t make you fat, right? Or does it? The confusion is real! Add to all this the responsibility of having to properly feed your child, and the confusion will become overwhelm in no time!
This post will cut through all the noise, and give you the skinny on fats once and for all (see what I did there?). You can rest assured that everything I’m recommending here is research-based. I did all the digging and learning so you don’t have to. So let’s jump in and talk all about healthy fats and oils for kids!
Let’s start by saying that yes, fat is good for you! Fat is one of the 3 macronutrients (and many micronutrients) our bodies depend on to properly grow and sustain our daily functions, so it’s important to include it at meals!
There are definitely qualities that make some fats better than others, but that doesn’t mean any foods should be off the table. Even the less nutritious fats can exist in your family’s diet from time to time!
Need more convincing? Here are a few more reasons to love fat:
Usually when a meal feels like it’s missing that “satisfaction” factor (i.e., when your kids are begging you for a snack 6 seconds after lunch!), it’s because it’s too low in fat.
They’re in a really important stage of development where their brains and entire central nervous systems are growing and developing more every day, and their bodies require fat to make that all happen.
Fat soluble vitamins (like vitamins A, D, E, and K) can’t be absorbed properly unless fat is present in the body.
Fat is so important for our kids’ development that The American Academy of Pediatrics says not to restrict it at all in children under 2 years old. And even after age 2, they say that around 30% of our kids’ total calories should come still from fat. (You don’t need to worry about trying to figure out what 30% of their diet looks like. Just include a fat at every meal, and it’ll all balance out!)
By the way, this is why for your little ones under 2, I always say to choose full-fat dairy over low-fat or nonfat. After age 2, it’s up to you. You can stick with full fat or go to low-fat, it’s just personal preference. (For more info on milk choices for kids, click here.)
Healthy fats and oils for kids (and us!) come mainly from vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish. I like to primarily use plant based oils when cooking, though you’ll see butter and bacon make an appearance in my kitchen sometimes, too! There’s no food that has to be completely off limits.
With that said, the fats and oils I use most in my kitchen are:
I love these ones because they’re nutrient-dense and they make my meals more filling!
This list also gives me a lot of options to choose from. Depending on the recipe or just my preference, I can cook foods in an oil, serve a fatty fish as a main, or use nuts and seeds as a garnish for things like yogurt and toast. This makes it easy to make sure I’m serving a fat at every meal and giving my kids about 30% of their calories from fat!
We can’t talk about healthy fats and oils for kids without talking about unsaturated fats, which are essentially the ones that are liquid at room temperature (like olive oil).
Unsaturated fats are really good for us because they offer more protection from health risks like heart disease and stroke. It’s best to default to using them more often than saturated fats.
But to be super clear, all fats contain both saturated and unsaturated fats; we just categorize them based on the whichever type of fatty acids that they contain more of. So for example, coconut oil is made up of about 92% saturated fatty acids, making it a saturated fat. Olive oil is made up of about 86% unsaturated fatty acids, which makes it an unsaturated fat.
Just a little nutrition science nugget for you!
My favorite healthy oils for kids (and for myself) are avocado oil and olive oil. Here’s why:
I love avocado oil because it:
Shopping Tip: I like to buy a huge bottle of Avocado Oil at Costco!
I love olive oil because it:
For baking, always choose a neutral tasting oil. My favs are:
For sautéing or pan frying, use an oil with a higher smoke point, like:
For searing, opt for:
For stir frying, try peanut oil (it’s so good!).
And, for dressings, vinaigrettes, and finishing oil, reach for extra virgin olive oil. Its lower smoke point means it’s not as good for high-heat recipes, but it’s perfect for things like this!
Check out my Meal & Snack Survival Guide! It’s full of healthy recipes that are ready and on the table in 15 minutes or less, with little-to-NO prep! Use it as a meal plan, or just pick and choose for some mealtime inspiration.
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