The other day I learned about why 'trans' fat occurs and what the name refers to.

For a long time I pictured something sleazy going on...like a married man sneaking off in middle of the night to put on a wig and lipstick for a night out on the town---but with fat, of course.

I understand margarine can be a great way to be 'fake butter' but they take a healthy plant oil, add a bunch of hydrogen atoms until it becomes practically 'saturated fat.' And this also changes the molecular structure of the fat, causing the hydrogen to be in 'trans' or kitty corner alignment instead of directly neighboring.

Unfortunately, that yummy (well overrated to me..) margarine is going to contribute to clogging arteries if you spread it on every bran muffin, toast, or eat it by the stick with sugar. ( Aye dios mio, who does that and why?)

So I feel butter about the whole 'trans' fat definition. I no longer feel like calling the sleeping wife of trans fat. I feel like trans fat's the overobsessed plastic surgery type.

I want to let'm know, you're perfect the way you are--stay a vegetable oil! Don't let all the tabloids, KFCs, and Country crocks make you feel you inferior! I will dip my bread in you.