How much fat to eat is not a simple issue. You have to take into consideration not only how much but what type to eat as well as whether you're at risk of high cholesterol, heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
One or two tablespoons of a good oil or some nuts, avocado, wheatgerm, salad dressing or mayonnaise a day is enough. The trouble is most of us exceed this intake well and truly.
No specific figure for fat
There are no official recommended intakes for fat, as there are for protein, vitamins and minerals. Instead nutrition authorities usually suggest you aim for around 30 per cent of the total kilojoules (calories) you consume to be in the form of fat.
At 30 per cent, you're getting a healthy level of intake, one where you can meet your body's requirements for fatty acids (yes, fatty acids are essential) without overloading it with unwanted kilojoules.
This means a fat intake of anywhere from 40 grams to 85 grams a day depending on your activity level, age, gender and stage of life (children need more fat for their body weight than do adults). See some suggested intakes below and in the table.