I know that only a certain amount of your calories should come from fat, but how do you calculate that percentage?
– Brian

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that about 30% of a person's total calories each day should come from fat — and most of that fat should be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.

Saturated fat and trans fat can raise cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease, so their intake should be kept to less than 10% of a person's total calories each day. Individual foods may contain more or less than 30% fat, but it's easier to control total fat intake if you're aware of the fat content of the foods you eat.

To get this percentage, divide calories from fat by total calories (this information appears on the food label) and then multiply by 100. For example, if a 300-calorie food has 60 calories from fat, you divide 60 by 300 and then multiply by 100. That food has 20% of its calories from fat.

For more information, check out these articles:
Fats and Your Child
Deciphering Food Labels
Definition: Fats

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: January 2007
Originally reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD

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