Does total fat include polyun/monoun fats?

ralevin

Hi Everyone,
I'm pretty new around here, but am a little confused about something and haven't been able to find an answer. I'm hoping someone can help me out.
MFP calculates my goal for TOTAL fat at roughly 60-something grams a day (I don't have it in front of me, so I don't remember the exact number).
However, my goals for polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are EACH at 100g.
Are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats not included in total fat? I understand that they are the "good" fats, but aren't they still fats?

Thanks!
Ryan

lordofultima

poly and monounsaturated fats all count towards the total fat, on a nutritional label where it says total fat, that is the number you will plug in. Those goals for poly and monounsaturated are just placeholders.

ralevin

Then why would MFP make my total fat goal 60-something grams, polyunsaturated fat goal 100g, and monoun... goal 100 grams?
I'm confused...

lordofultima

Then why would MFP make my total fat goal 60-something grams, polyunsaturated fat goal 100g, and monoun... goal 100 grams?
I'm confused...

Because they're good fats, do you know how to read the nutritional labels? The 100g is just a placeholder, obviously if you get 100g of polyunsaturated fat you will by default have 100g of fat, which would go over your macronutrient goal.

The reason to track those types of fat specifically, is to make sure you're getting enough healthy fat. I try to get at least half of my fats from poly/monounsaturated and omega 3.

ralevin

I thought I knew how to read a nutrition label. I'm a fairly smart person and have at least looked at labels for many years (whether or not I used that information is a different story :-)

I get what you're saying that poly and mono are included in total fat. That's what I figured.

I don't understand why MFP would make the goal for those higher than the goal for the total fat. What do you mean by placeholder?

lordofultima

I thought I knew how to read a nutrition label. I'm a fairly smart person and have at least looked at labels for many years (whether or not I used that information is a different story :-)

I get what you're saying that poly and mono are included in total fat. That's what I figured.

I don't understand why MFP would make the goal for those higher than the goal for the total fat. What do you mean by placeholder?

You won't want to go over your goal for total fat, so by reaching that 100g limit you would go over your total fat limit. You would change the placeholder number to whatever percent of total fat you want to come from those sources, if you were inclined. The 100g is just saying like, hey you should get these fats they're better!

ralevin

Understood. Thanks so much for the help!

SandraKOwen

I am having the same type problem with MFP. I realize it doesn't include the mono and poly fats in the total fat but feel it should. Does anyone know why it wouldn't calculate those into the total fat?