Fat-friendly fries?

McDonald's is giving its famous fries a makeover. How come? The average American devours 27 kilograms (60 pounds) of potatoes each year--mostly in the form of French fries drenched in saturated fats and trans fatty acids. Saturated fats, the unhealthiest of three major fat types, are found in foods derived from animals, like beef, butter, and cheese. Trans fats are mostly artificial fats designed to turn liquid oils solid at room temperature, and keep fats from turning rancid. Although tasty, both types are linked to heart disease.

Now, the fast-food giant has switched to a new cooking oil that trims levels of both saturated fats and trans fatty acids. Caution: "It's a better fat to use, but the total calories remain the same," says nutritionist Alice Lichtenstein at Tuffs University. "So don't think you can eat these fries with abandon."

THINK ABOUT IT

The American Heart Association says your
daily fat intake shouldn't exceed 30 percent
of total calories. Based on a 2,000-calorie
diet, how many orders of McDonald's small
fries could you eat in a day without exceeding
the recommended fat limit?

FAT BREAKDOWN *           OLD    NEW

Calories                210.0    210.0

Calories from fat        90.0     90.0

Saturated                20.7     17.0

Trans fatty              30.0     16.0

Polyunsaturated          10.8     29.0

Monounsaturated          29.0     29.0

* CALORIC VALUES ARE ROUNDED - SOURCE: McDONALD'S

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