Yum....healthy fats (a little goes a long way)

So I made it out to Whole Foods and feel much better about the fruits and vegetables now in my fridge. I also bought a few new things that I hadn't bought before: almond butter and almond milk.

In its May issue, Shape Magazine has a page dedicated to new ideas for smoothies, and the Banana Almond flavor caught my eye. It's basically 1 cup of ice, 1/2 cup of almond milk, 1 ripe banana, and 1 tbsp. of almond butter (Shape also lists a medjool date as an ingredient, but I didn't feel like searching for it).
Delicious!

I'm sure you've heard that there is a difference between fats, such as the saturated kind (animal fats, butter, cream) and unsaturated kind (seeds, nuts, olive oil, avocado, salmon). The first can lead to heart disease and the second can help repair tissue, enhance digestion, improve good cholesterol, and create better skin, hair, nails, etc.

As a trainer, I've run into a few kinds of people...
1. Those who eat both saturated and unsaturated fat.
2. Those who eat very little of either fat because they're scared of gaining weight.
3. Those who have sharply reduced saturated fat, but eat as much unsaturated fat as they want because it's "healthy".

Since most of my clients are interested in weight loss, I need to say that all fats, whether saturated or unsaturated, have 9 calories per gram. So while you are getting the benefits of the good fats, you are still eating as many calories as you would with the other fats.

Did you know that 1 tbsp. of peanut butter has more calories (94) than 1 tbsp. of heavy whipping cream (52)?

I'm not saying to start loading up on artery-clogging fats, but I am saying that if you are looking to lose weight, go easy on all fats, and foods in general (but especially sugars, processed foods, and foods that have enough sodium to bloat your fingers into fat little sausages!).

And if you're looking for a way to enjoy healthier fats, try the smoothie recipe above. It's easy, fast, and tastes awesome!