Oils are fats that are liquid at room temperature. Oils come from many different plants and from fish.
Common oils include:
- sunflower oil
- soybean oil
- olive oil
- safflower oil
- canola oil
- corn oil
- cottonseed oil
Some oils can be used as flavorings, such as sesame oil and walnut oil.
Some foods naturally high in oils are:
- avocados
- some fish
- nuts
- olives
Most oils are high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, and low in saturated fats. Oils from plant sources, ex. vegetable and nut oils, do not contain any cholesterol. A few plant oils, including palm kernel oil and coconut oil, are high in saturated fats and for nutritional purposes should be considered to be solid fats.
Solid fats are fats that are solid at room temperature, such as butter and shortening.
Common solid fats are:
- butter
- shortening
- stick margarine
- pork fat (lard)
- chicken fat
- beef fat (tallow,suet)
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/oils.html
