maple leaf cookies
Jennifer IserlohThe cool air today reminded me of the first time I went to see a football game at the University of Pittsburgh. I went with my husband on a date (only he was my boyfriend at the time) and I packed a handful of maple cookies for us to snack on while we watched the game. Truthfully, I wasn't that interested in the game or the cookies, but I do remember the look on his face when I produced the surprise treat at half time.

I still love the syrupy, warm flavor that maple gives to baked goods, but most of the baked items that you find on the market contain things that I don't love, like trans fats. The fast-food industry relies on frying oils that contain trans fat to prolong the oil's shelf life -- it's a cheap fat source to churn out their fried food. Although trans fats are no longer permitted in restaurants and food chains in New York City, they are still used in other parts of the country and continue to be a staple in baked goods because they prolong shelf life.

Why are trans fats are so bad? Because they accelerate plaque build-up in your arteries like no other fat, and can eventually cause coronary heart disease. Hence, trans fats should have no place in your diet! When in doubt, look at the ingredient list -- if an item contains any trans fat at all, even in the form of "partially hydrogenated" oil, then it's a definite pass. Watch out for products labeled "trans-fat free," since manufacturers are legally permitted to make the claim if each serving is under .5 grams of trans fat -- still too much, in my opinion. What happens if you have two servings, which could mean just two cookies? You could be getting a lot more than you bargained for, and that "trans-fat free" claim goes out the window. If you really want to know what you're eating, simply make your own baked goods.

Get The Skinny Chef's Maple Leaf Cookies with Mini Chocolate Chips Recipe.

Nutritional Stats Per Serving (1 cookie): 100 calories, 2 g protein, 15 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat (2 g saturated), 7 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 54 mg sodium

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