If you had to choose one: CARBS or FAT?

Here is a hypothetical:

If I have two options of food to chose from, and they both have the EXACT same nutritional information EXCEPT for CARBS and FAT, which would you choose?

I.e.: If one was higher in CARBS, but the other was higher in FAT?

Which one would you stay away from? Which is the lesser of two evils: CARBS or FAT?

For me, it depends on the source of the carb and the type of fat. Neither carbs nor fat technically makes you fat. All that is a bunch of mythological hoo ha that sells fad diets. But, if the carb is mostly refined simple sugars and the fat is mostly unsaturated and filled with Omega-3's, then I choose the fat. But, if the carb is a complex carb or perhaps even a simple one accompanied by fiber (like an apple) and the fat is trans fat or saturated fat, then I choose the carb.

There are highly nutritious qualities of carbs and fat, and to vilify one or the other does your body a great dis-service.

Perfectly said.

Would also depend on timing of the meal for me.

So much hostility on this thread against carbs!

Neither carbs nor fat should be classified as evil. They are both necessary for your body to function properly. To really choose, you would need to know what the two items you are choosing between actually are. Take this example, 2 items that are approximately 120 calories each, the only difference is one has more carbs and the other has more fat. Many of you will automatically choose the one with the fat without knowing what it is because you have given into the "all carbs are bad" hype. Some of you will choose the one with more carbs without knowing what it is because you perceive it as having more substance and being more filling. But what if the two items were a tablespoon of olive oil (more fat) and a large banana (more carbs)? I don't mean for my example to come off as anti-fat. 100 calories of healthy fat is a better choice over 100 calories of refined sugar. I'm just saying you can't really choose the healthier option without knowing what exactly it is you are choosing between.

I am a certified personal trainer. In school they teach us that Carbs needs to complete 60% of your daily calorie intake. Fat needs to be 40% and protein 10%-15%. The trick is not choosing carbs or fat, its choosing the correct carbs and the correct fats. There are good carbs and bad carbs, good fats and BAD fats. You can google lists of these to keep with you. Basically no processed carbohydrates (white bread, white pasta, cereals, sugars, ect). No saturated or trans fats.
If you need to loose a good bit of weight I would suggest keeping you carb intake (good carbs only) and do a lower fat diet. Eat fat, just eat the good stuff!

I also work for a doctor and he agrees that what physical activity you do is really just as if not more important than what you eat.

The notion that animal fats (saturated) are BAD for you is out dated. Coconut oil is a highly saturated oil and is one of the healthiest oils one can add to your daily regime. There are so many studies that are showing that animal fats are not responsible for raised lipid panels. It is the ingestion of too much sugar and insulin response that is raising cholesterol numbers around the world! Eat fat, get thin and health!

If you put it that way, protein isn't required either. We only need a couple single amino acids to produce all the amino acids necessary through transamination. That's not the actual meaning of an essential nutrient, either.

Just setting some parameters to make a point...that's all. All three sources of energy are obviously needed for good health.