What percentage of a diet should be fats and oils?

• A. 8
• B. 6
• C. 5
• D. 2

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how much fat is considered appropriate in a diet when energy intake needs to be controlled. Fats are very energy-dense, so in strategies that aim to limit total calories, fats are kept to a very small portion of the diet. The lowest percentage, 2%, reflects this approach: it allows only a tiny amount of fats to ensure some essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins are still provided, while keeping overall energy from fat very low to help with weight management or medical dietary goals. The larger percentages would raise energy density too much for a strict low-fat plan.