I heard you’re supposed to limit yourself to only one fatty food a week. Is this true?

veggie dietI heard you’re supposed to limit yourself to only one fatty food a week. Does that mean I can only eat one ice cream, one chocolate bar, or one piece of cake (etc.) per week?

Just because a food is high in fat doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad for you. In fact, some foods that are high in fat (such as nuts and avocados) are actually really healthy. However, some “fast foods” and many desserts (including baked goods) are another story because the type of fat in these foods isn’t so healthy. There’s no strict rule about how often you can have these foods, though. Most experts agree that they probably shouldn’t be eaten on a daily basis, but it’s okay to have them every once in a while. If you have a health issue (such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure) or if you have a hard time maintaining a healthy weight, it would be a good idea to cut back on these foods and replace them with healthier treats.


Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.