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National Healthy Fats Day

A food observance on March 21 promoting the importance and benefits of healthy fats, particularly traditional animal fats, in a balanced diet and culinary traditions.

Sunday
21
March 2027
Last updated February 26, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team
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YEARLY DATEMarch 21
OBSERVED INUnited States
CATEGORYHealth
SUBCATEGORYNutrition
ORIGIN

Institutional Initiative

FOUNDING ENTITY
Healthy Fats Coalition
FIRST OBSERVED
2018
HOW THE HOLIDAY CAME TO BE

The Healthy Fats Coalition, founded in 2016 and led by Coast Packing Company, established the observance with its first event on March 21, 2018, to promote awareness of traditional healthy animal fats such as lard, tallow, and duck fat.

Institutional Recordvia healthyfatscoalition.org
INTRO

Introduction

Get ready to celebrate National Healthy Fats Day on March 21 by indulging in some delicious and nutritious foods! This day was created to educate people about the importance of incorporating healthy fats into their diets. Contrary to popular belief, not all fats are bad for you – in fact, certain types of fats can actually improve heart health and aid in weight management. From avocados to nuts to olive oil, there are plenty of tasty options to choose from when it comes to healthy fats. So why not take this day as an opportunity to try out some new recipes and nourish your body with these beneficial fats?

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TIMELINE

National Healthy Fats Day Timeline

Fear of Fats

In the 1950s, fats were demonized due to flawed scientific studies, leading to the low-fat diet craze and an increase in sugar consumption.

Reconsideration of Fats

In the late 1980s, research started to show that not all fats were bad and that some fats were beneficial to our health.

Emergence of Low-Carb Diets

The Atkins diet, promoting high-fat, low-carb eating for weight loss, reached its peak popularity in 2003, feeding into a reconsideration of healthy fats.

Surge of Ketogenic Diet

The ketogenic diet, a high-fat, low-carb diet aimed at inducing ketosis for weight loss, gained major popularity starting around 2013, emphasizing the role of healthy fats.

FDA Trans Fat Ban

In 2015, the FDA announced a ban on artificial trans fats, known for their negative health effects, further highlighting the importance of healthy fats in our diet.

First National Healthy Fats Day

The first National Healthy Fats Day was celebrated on March 21, 2018, to promote the education and understanding of the benefits of incorporating healthy fats into our diet.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Healthy Fats Day

EDITOR'S PICK

Try a new healthy fat source

Challenge yourself to try a new healthy fat source, such as avocado, nuts, or olive oil. Experiment with incorporating these healthy fats into your meals for the day.

ATTEND

Attend a cooking demo or workshop

Look for local cooking demos or workshops that focus on incorporating healthy fats into your diet. This is a great way to learn new recipes and techniques for cooking with healthy fats.

GO

Go on a hike or outdoor activity

Get active and celebrate National Healthy Fats Day by going on a hike or other outdoor activity. This is a great way to burn some calories and enjoy the benefits of incorporating healthy fats into your diet.

HOST

Host a healthy fats potluck

Gather some friends and have a healthy fats potluck party! Everyone can bring a dish that incorporates healthy fats and you can all enjoy trying out new recipes together.

CREATE

Create a healthy fats recipe swap

Reach out to friends and family and ask them to share their favorite healthy fats recipes. Then, swap recipes and try out each other's dishes for National Healthy Fats Day.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why National Healthy Fats Day is Important

Encourages a balanced diet

National Healthy Fats Day highlights the importance of including all food groups in our diets. Instead of demonizing any particular type of fat or food, the holiday encourages a balanced and well-rounded approach to eating. Plus, healthy fats can make food taste even better - so it's a win-win situation!

Healthy fats are essential for our bodies

Contrary to popular belief, healthy fats are actually necessary for our bodies to function properly. They help with hormone production, maintain healthy skin and hair, and aid in nutrient absorption. National Healthy Fats Day is a great reminder to incorporate these important nutrients into our diets.

Helps dispel the myth that all fats are bad

There's a common misconception that all fats are bad for us, but there are actually different types of fats - some of which are beneficial to our health. By celebrating National Healthy Fats Day, we can bring awareness to this fact and promote a better understanding of healthy eating habits.

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