How do you feel about green foods? No, not vegetables this time! I like a lot of green foods, but I know that is not the case for everyone. And, even for people that like green foods – there seems to be a real division when it comes to the avocado. When I talk to people, they either love avocado or they hate it. Honestly, if someone says they don’t like avocado, I am usually skeptical that they have given this beautiful berry a real chance. Yep, the avocado is a berry!
The avocado grows on a tree and in case you didn’t know, the avocado is a berry! Yep, you read that right – it’s a large berry containing a single large seed.
When you hear avocado, what do you think of? I feel like most people’s mind goes straight to guacamole – and that was always my go-to thought too. Avocados are the go-to ingredient for guacamole dips at parties. My easiest guac at home recipe is to mash avocado with fresh salsa, some salt, garlic and lime juice.
This past December, my family went to Mexico over Christmas and let me tell you that avocados in Mexico are the REAL DEAL! We went to a guacamole making lesson that was very informative 🙂
Now avocados are everywhere – not just in sunny California – avocados are showing up in everything from salads and wraps to smoothies and even brownies. Yep, avocados in brownies!!
Even Oprah loves avocados so much that she grows her own. I guess she won’t be affected by a price hike!
Why should you give avocado a try?
There are a few reasons, my friends!
If you didn’t know, avocados have nearly 20 vitamins and minerals in every serving, and they are a good source of B vitamins, which help you fight off disease and infection. Avocados are low in sugar and they contain fiber, which helps you feel full longer – check out my post about Foods That Help Us Feel Full Longer! And, how about this?? When I add avocado to a meal, I know it helps me avoid eating during the next two to three hours.
The Skinny on the Fat and Calories
Some people shy away from eating avocado because they are high in fat and we have definitely been conditioned to believe that fat is bad for us. However, the fat in avocados is monounsaturated fat – a “good” fat that helps lower bad cholesterol numbers. Of course, as with any foods, you want to eat avocados in moderation because they do have a lot of calories. The recommended serving size for avocado is 1/3 of a medium avocado – that’s enough for avocado toast for sure. That means don’t eat the whole bowl of guac!
How to buy, store and prepare avocados
Avocados can be tricky to pick, but practice makes perfect. At the store, you want to look for greenish brown avocados and then store them at room temperature at home if you’ll be ready to eat them soon. I put mine right into the refrigerator and take one or two out if I need it to ripen up.
It can take 4 to 5 days for an avocado to ripen. To speed up the ripening process, put them in a paper bag along with an apple or banana. When the outside skins are black or dark purple and yield to gentle pressure, they’re ready to eat.
You want to be sure and wash the avocado before cutting into it so dirt and bacteria aren’t transferred from your knife onto the inside.
While guacamole is the main thing most of us think of when we think about an avocado, you can also puree avocados and toss with pasta or even better, try avocado pesto zucchini noodles like I did here.
Some other great uses for avocado are to use it as a substitute for butter or oil in your favorite baked good recipes or to replace mayo in tuna or chicken salad. I love avocado slices in this California omelette, and of course avocado alone on a plate with a little salt is fine too!
