Hi Everyone! I hope you are all having a great day or night or whatever time it happens to be wherever in the world you are.
Today I wanted to talk to you about one of my very favorite things – FAT.
I love fat so much. In fact, while some people have a sweet tooth, and other people have a salty tooth, I think I must have a fat tooth. If there is one thing that I crave consistently it is fats of all kinds. Healthy fats like avocados, nuts, and oils, make up a large part of my diet. (And, to be quite honest, so do plenty of unhealthy fats, like fried foods which I love very dearly. Sambusa might just be the love of my life!)
But you know what I always say, food is good for the body and soul, so just because something isn’t the best for my body, doesn’t it mean it isn’t doing a good job making me happy, and that is important, too!
It makes me sad when I see people trying to live on a totally fat-free diet. We need our fats! Fats are not evil, they are not something to be feared, they are most definitely not the enemy. And it makes me so happy to see people embracing their love of fats, like Chocolate Covered Katie, one of my favorite bloggers, who did a whole series about loving our fatty foods. A woman after my own heart!
As much as I love fats, I know that not all fats are created equal, there are several different kinds, and some are better than others.
Monosaturated fats are found in avocados, almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans, olives, and some types of seeds like pumpkin and sesame. People with a diet high in monosaturated fats are typically at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Polyunsaturated fats are found in flax seeds and flax seed oil, walnuts, and soybean oil and contain the anti-inflammatory family of fatty acids so necessary for out health.
Saturated fats are found in animal products like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, and also in palm oil and coconut oil. Too much saturated fat is definitely not good for you and it isn’t necessary to consume at all because our body makes all the saturated fat it needs.
Trans fats are found in fried food, candy, fast food, and pretty much every type of junk food you can think of. Nope, they are definitely not good for you but you won’t see me skipping my greasy fried sambusa, trans fats be damned!
Somehow, over the years, ALL fats have been lumped in with the ‘not so healthy’ fats and this fat fear has spawned a generation of people who think that no fat = healthy. Not true! Fats are such an important and necessary part of our diet, here are just a few of the ways they help us out from head to toe:
- Brain – Fats are essential to brain function. They keep us sharp, help us learn and retain memory, and stabilize our moods.
- Heart – 60% of our heart’s energy comes from burning fats. Certain types of fats keep the heart beating rhythmically.
- Lungs - Fat is needed to keep the lungs working properly and prevent them from collapsing.
- Nerves - Our nerves are insulated and protected by fat, speeding the signals and keeping us going!
- Digestion - Having healthy fats in a meal slows digestion and aides in the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, which ensures you get the most out of every bite.
Those are just a few of the ways that fats help our bodies stay healthy and fit.
Fats make up a very large part of my diet, and when they don’t I start to feel miserable! I need my avocados, my nuts, and my oils, or else my brain starts to short circuit! Fats keep me satiated and satisfied, and they definitely put a smile on my face.
Here are some of the yummy fats I’ve enjoyed over the past few days:
Sesame Noodles from Choosing Raw.
I saw this recipe for the sesame dressing earlier this morning and just finished eating my second bowl for lunch. I had all the ingredients on hand, it only took a few minutes to prepare, and was even more delicious than I could have imagined. It is rich and salty and oh so fatty. In my rendition of this recipe I omitted the ginger and added 2 cloves of garlic. Perfection!
The yummy fat showcased in this recipe is tahini :
Tahini is sesame seed paste and it is delicious, and full of healthy fats! It is one of the main ingredients in hummus and I combine it frequently with spicy mustard and olive oil to make a quick salad dressing.
(I’m also happy to have found an organic source of tahini. As you know, here in Saudi Arabia it can be very difficult (as in impossible) to find organic goods, so when we do it is a real treat. While I know organic foods are the best for my body, I don’t worry about it too much because I think our bodies are tougher and more resilient than we give them credit for. That is not to say that I wouldn’t buy exclusively organic if I could, because I definitely would! However, my main reason to love organic food isn’t just because it is the best for my health, but because I want to support sustainable farming practices that do not destroy our planet or wreck our resources.)
Hiding in this post here is my FAVORITE FAT OF ALL – Avocados!
I like avocados piled on toast with a pinch of sea salt and hot sauce, scooped right out of the skin and eaten plain, sweetened with agave nectar and spread onto my super decadent raw double fudge brownies, or like you see them here, stuffed into a toasted tortilla on top of pinto beans. It is what I had for dinner last night and it was delicious and nutritious!
And you can’t forget about dessert! After my yummy fat filled feast last night, Cody surprised me with a unique but out of this world delicious dessert.
That beauty right there is a big spoonful of cashew butter (my very favorite nut butter!) topped with a hunk of dark chocolate and a sprinkling of graham cracker crumbs.
OH YUM!
I think you can tell by the plating that Cody and I have been watching a lot of the Food Network lately. Fancy shmancy, eh? It was absolutely delicious, and highlights one of my all time favorite fats – cashew butter!
There you go!
That is a quick little tour of the delicious fats I have enjoyed over the past few days.
Do you have a fat tooth like I do? If so, what are you favorite fatty foods?
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I can’t wait to get home and try some of those noodles! I wouldn’t mind having something fried as well now that you mention it…
holy crap that dessert totally WAS out of this world!! omg MMMM with the nut butter and chocolate ontop
nom nom nom
i totally have a fat tooth but it really likes to stay at bay and not come out too often. but when its out its loving hazelnut butter, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and hemp seed butter <3 MmmMMMMm
Hazelnut butter! That sounds OH MY GOSH fantastic!
Wow, that is one gorgeous lookin bowl of (fat!) noodles. And I love Cody’s dessert idea: how could raw cheesecake get any easier?
That’s exactly what we thought! Deconstructed dessert!
I love fatty foods… especially avocados.mmmmmmmmmmmm
That desert looks fantastic…….
Since you mentioned tahini – mix it with some maple syrup… it’s like caramel goodness!!
Hope you are well,
Jess
High-five for fats! (love high-fives) Fave fats- cashew nuts (never tried cashew nut butter), peanut butter, almond butter, avos. does chocolate count? love the stuff. Thanks for the info on different types of fat and fat’s function- good to be reminded of the necessities of life. How sweet of cody to make you dessert (no pun intended). I think tom would just shove a bar of dark chocolate under my nose and call it dessert. But, to be fair, I would be pleased with that
I’m usually pleased with that every night of the week! Last night he got the whim to be a bit fancy, and it was delicious.
I love peanut butter, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and olive oil! Nuts and seeds must be the best foods ever.
Also, I made your asparagus & couscous stuffed peppers last night for my family–total success! Even my brother (who isn’t the biggest vegetable lover) liked them!
I LOVE this post! I LOVE the way you talk about this! Its so funny! ‘Fat’ is such a dirty word nowadays and people cringe at the sounds or sight of it! Im always stunned when people forget how important it can be. Keep going on the crusade! Especially, if you have more dessert like that!!!
Pretty sure I have a fat tooth too!
Mmm, I love avocado, olives, chocolate, nut butters! 
I loooooove french fries! Any fried-potato arrangement is aces with me! And dosas, even the ghetto way I make them (with tortillas). And grilled cheeze sandwiches. Also, shut up about the avocados, because I don’t have any right now, and my mom has commissioned me to make some avocado-basil pasta salad when we visit them this weekend, and I am craving avocados, and you are making me want them so much more, and you are SO MEAN!
Ahem. Clearly, I need to eat some more fat to restore my good humor.
FRIED POTATOES ARE THE BEST. How could I have forgotten to mention my love of spuds??? And ohhhh grilled cheeze sandwiches…..love love love. We’ve been out of nooch for months now and I’m beginning to lose my will to go on. Does life even have a point when there is no noochy goodness to be had?
HAHA! Yes, get some fat asap, I want to be back in your good graces!
I get really frustrated by the whole fat free movement in general; because typically those foods are less healthy than their fatty counterparts because they have a TON of sugar added to make them taste right. Sugar turns into bad fat in our systems!!! I would be lost without avocados, nuts, olive oil and coconut oil (medium chain!). Sesame oil is one of those things that…let’s just say Eat right for your Blood type has me convinced that sesame oil is less than ideal for my blood type (B) but i still consume it occasionally. I adore your blog Tasha!
I’m betting your sambosa’s don’t have transfat unless you by a partially hydrogenated oil. Transfats have been banned in parts of the US already.
Here in Saudi Arabia transfats reign supreme! I buy mine from a little shack on the street in the city outside of our compound and I don’t even want to know what kind of oil they are fried in! I’m glad you like the blog, thank you so much!
Love your blog! I love my fats too, especially avocados! I eat a lot of pistachios and I love tahini and nut butters. I also have a weakness for french fries and onion rings, although I try to limit them.
Thanks, Jade! I love french fries and onion rings too. In fact, I think waffle fries are on the menu tonight.
YAY for fat!!! this is exactly why i’m studying public health education. to educate and tell people how to be healthy and that fat is not the enemy!!
my favorite fats are definitely avocado, PB, and nuts (in the form of LARABARS!!)
Fats are my fave! I get all sad when people try to be fat-free too. That’s not only unnecessary, but doing away with all fat is also pretty darn unhealthy. Avocados and nut butters are the best. I couldn’t live without them. Love the cashew butter dessert. I’m gonna have to try that sometime.
Yum for fats!!! For great looking skin, drinking water of course in numero uno but eating fats from plant sources, such as the ones you mentioned and others do wonders for the skin. Avocado’s are one of my top fav’s!
I can’t really do fried foods, it wreaks havoc on my stomache so I don’t really have to worry about that.
I am giving you a Sunshine Award on my blog
Hooray for fats! I’m so glad you posted about this. Fats. Taste. Good. Plain and simple. I’m all for upping the “good” fats and reducing the “bad” fats, but there are days a gal just NEEDS some french fries, am I right?
Heck yes! There are days when I need everything fried!
wow!!! i’m not a vegan, but i’d like to eat more vegan foods. i am SOO glad to hear that there are fats that don’t involve gravy and the like
i totally have a fat tooth and i LOVE that you called it that!! thanks for the tips, everyone
I love fat, all kinds. Love. I think my body would completely implode without it! My favorite sources of fats are definitely avocados, cocoa butter, potato chips(salt and vinegar if I can get em GF!), peanut butter, vegenaise, almonds, cashews, and tahini. In that order.
I’m pretty sure I’m blessed with a fat tooth, a sweet tooth, and a salty tooth. Especially when it’s all combined into one awesome dish! Yummers…
SALT AND VINEGAR CHIPS = THE BEST.
Let’s hear it for good fats! Yay!
I just made a big batch of peanut noodles the other day too, and they look quite a bit like yours! The best part is, I was able to convince both of my parents to eat it as well. We almost never eat the same dish together at meal times. It was wonderful.
I love sharing a meal with my family, that does sound really wonderful!
I have a huge fat tooth but I try to keep it under control.
It can get out of hand sometimes, lol. My fat of choice is chocolate and nut butter!
Avocados, sunflower seeds and black sesame seeds. Oh yeah. Back in the “old days” I used to buy organic tahini in a 30# tub and split it with 3 friends. Then one of the friends moved away, and the other decided tahini had too much fat. Now I buy it in a jar like everyone else.
I love avocados too! I really love it on toast with nutritional yeast and freshly ground pepper.
But of course, also right out of the skin, in/on quesadillas, burritos, tacos, salads, wraps, rolls, sandwiches, and practically wherever possible.
I also love olives, olive oil, peanut butter, tahini, nuts, coconut oil, and the occasional fried food.
For some reason they don’t sell nut butters around here, aside from almond, which I was surprised to find out that I am not particularly fond of. Oh well. I’ve got other tasty fats to keep me happy.
I’ve definitely increased my fat intake since going raw and can’t wait to try the sesame noodle recipe, yum! Nuts, seeds, avocados and coconut are just a few of my favorite fat sources.
Great post! I too love healthy fats, my favourtes are avocados and tahini, mmm! Great to see you can find some organic tahini in SA, I love having a spoon of it in between meals if I don’t have a snack with me.
Oh we love tahini!! And ya for fats ; ) haha YUM!
One of the main benefits of my shift to raw food was eating more fat! I feared it before. I attribute eating more fat to my better mood and better skin. I used to love my fried food in a bar from time to time but I don’t miss it if I eat enough other fats. When I have started craving fried food it was when I was eating no fat, on a juice feast.
And I think I have a chocolate tooth!
Oh YES! I’ve got a chocolate tooth right next to my fat tooth!
I have a sweet tooth, i.e. carbs, more than a fat tooth. But fat tooth is 2nd. “Protein” tooth is wayyyy last
Not really too concerned LOL
I love coconut oil fat. Mmmm. I eat a HUGE slab of it every night on popcorn and also rub it all over my skin always. Even Skylar asks for it on her skin. And then she sniffs her hands and inhales luxuriously..it’s quite cute
you probably cant get it over there but i swear to god you would adore sunflower seed butter. I like cashew butter, but SFSButter is like my ultimate. AB and PB are ok, but SFSB..yum
GREAT Post Tasha!
xo
Hooray for fat indeed!
Thanks for differentiating between the different types of fat and proving that good fats are indeed good for you! It makes me sad to think of the years I wasted eating fat free foods (and feeling sooooo hungry afterwards) when I could’ve been chowing down on some good fats and feeling satiated.
soo i just discovered your blog…
and basically, i think i’m in love
! (in a non-creepy way, promise!!)
i just made the decision to go vegan (i’d been living 90% vegan anyway with the occasional egg and yogurt happening) and i am SO HAPPY i found your blog! all your food looks to die for. i am excited to get into the kitchen! thank you
oh, and as for my fat tooth…it’s DEFINITELY alive and kickin’ but i have a massive sweet tooth. it’s bad news
YAY! Great to hear from you Zoe, we never mind a little love around here!
I love this post – fat is sooo important for health, and like you said, just to feel good. Also, it makes your skin fantastic to eat a lot of avocados, and my personal favourite fat, coconut oil. Yum yum. I think all of my teeth are fat, except for the ones that are sweet. Haha!
oh lordy bgordy, i’m totally drooling over those sesame noodles. i can just just taste them! i love me some FAT tahini… right on!
Amen! I couldn’t agree more! And coincidentally avocados are my favourite food in the world.
Oh goodness gracious I loves me some fats too. Nut butters of all kinds are my dear friends. One of my favourite daily indulgences is unsweetened shredded coconut – it’s so good on everything, sweet or savory! And even though it’s soooooo high in fat, you don’t need to use much to get the full effect. Good stuff!
I WANT THOSE SESAME NOODLES.
What a great post. I’m glad somebody finally said it! YAY FATS!
yay for fats! trying to cut out fat completely is just insane, and fat has a totally bad rep :< yay for veganism! I'm eating as much vegan as possible. my family still thinks not eating meat is crazy, so…
and a friendly fyi… unfortunately, woodstock farms is not actually a farm but a distributor, and they've had a LOT of controversy in the past (how their "organic" dairy products are actually from factory farms).. & if the product also doesn't come from around where you live, it's already less sustainable because of the miles it has to go to get there.
haha, i love it “fat tooth”
I loooove fats! mmmm! olives, nuts, avocados, coconuts. They really are good for you! As a big fat vegan over forty, my cholesterol lvl is 156!
Olives are the best! I can’t believe I forgot to mention them in my original post, they are one of my favorite things. Love your name, by the way!