Fats are really just misunderstood. 

There are tons of foods at the grocery store that say "reduced-fat" or "20 percent less fat" as a marketing ploy to make them seem healthier. Unfortunately reducing the amount of fat in a product doesn't make it inherently healthy because fat isn't inherently unhealthy, although it is important to limit the amount of saturated fat we consume. According to Washington State University, for the average person, 20-35 percent of your daily calories should come from fat. Additionally, its role in the body is storing energy reserves, transporting fat-soluble vitamins, protecting vital organs, and insulation. However, it's important to note that only 10 percent should come from saturated fat (butter, coconut oil, full-fat dairy) so it's not a free-for-all.

Carbohydrates are controversial. 

With the craze of the keto diet and the myriad of other low-carb diets that promise fast weight loss, carbs can be quite the conversation starter. Here's the thing: our bodies NEED carbs. Carbs fuel our body during high-intensity exercise, they spare proteins that preserve muscle mass during exercise, and they fuel our brains! Carbohydrates are so important to our health, and it's safe to say that carbs shouldn't be demonized. In fact, they're so important that the recommended daily allowance of carbs is 40-50 percent of a sedentary individual's caloric intake, with the amount of recommended carbs increasing with the person's activity level. Some healthier sources of carbs are grains, dairy, and fruit.

Protein is crucial. 

When compared with the previous macros, proteins are viewed neutrally at worst, and positively at best. If you're into bodybuilding then you know what a vital role protein plays in preserving muscles during exercise as I mentioned before, but perhaps if you're not that into fitness then proteins might not seem that important. However inconsequential proteins might seem to non-body builders, they're vital to our tissue structure, metabolism, and the pH balance within our bodies. The recommended allowance of protein is highly variable and depends on both weight and activity level. Other than meat, good sources of protein include legumes, soy, lentils, nuts, whole grains, and seeds.