Ways to Include Avocados at Every Meal

I found the best information on Care2 today. This is originally from a great site, Naturally Savvy (@naturallysavvy). The subject is avocados. They’re one of nature’s powerhouse foods: they’ve got biotin for healthy, luminous skin; they’re full of heart-healthy fats, fiber, loads of vitamins, and great taste!

Well, yum! So let’s explore all the ways to do more with them than guacamole. Almost every meal is an opportunity to add in avocado. Consider these ideas.


For breakfast: Avocado toast is a simple, nutritious, and delicious way to start your day. Mash half an avocado on a piece of your favorite toasted bread, and top that with any number of things such as

  • Pepita seeds, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper

  • A poached egg

  • A drizzle of hazelnut spread and unsweetened coconut flakes

  • Bacon crumble and goat cheese

  • Tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella


Add avocados to your green fruit smoothie to boost your healthy fat intake first thing in the morning while giving it a creamy consistency.

Add diced avocado atop your cooked omelet along with a splash of salsa.


Or, consider baking an egg in an avocado. Simply crack an egg in each avocado half; season to taste, add toppings like cheese, diced tomatoes, herbs, or bacon; and bake at 425°F for approximately 15 minutes until the egg is cooked to your preferred consistency.

For lunch: Almost any salad can benefit from avocado slices, but if you’ve got a recipe that calls for mayo you can substitute avocado without sacrificing the taste. For instance, blend avocado with mustard the next time you make a chicken or tuna salad.


This next idea is well-known. Add avocado to your sandwiches for extra flavor. It pairs especially well with chicken, turkey, or grilled ground beef. Try an ABLT—or drop the bacon for a Meatless Monday meal that still satisfies. And taking the meatless sandwich to a gluten-free sandwich, spread mashed avocado over spinach leaves, season with garlic powder, add a thin slice of onion and tomato, and top with another spinach leaf spread with mashed avocado, and you have one of the best meatless, breadless sandwiches ever tasted!

For dinner: Avocados make a great creamy pasta sauce without all the heavy cream. Throw one to two avocados, a few basil leaves (optional), olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste in the food processor and pulse until combined. Toss with sautéed veggies and top with goat cheese for a quick, easy dinner that tastes a quite decadent.


If you’re celebrating Taco Tuesday, Fajita Friday, or Enchilada Everyday, experiment you’re your guacamole recipe. Add in peaches, mango, or papaya for a fruity twist; or spice it up with cayenne or your favorite hot sauce.

For dessert: Just like applesauce, avocados are a good substitute for the fat in baked goods. Simply replace half the butter in any given recipe with pureed avocado. You’ll add fiber and vitamins as you lower the calories in your cakes, muffins, cookies, and brownies.


And I’ll close with one of our family’s favorite super-quick treats. Combine avocados, a banana, peanut butter (optional), raw honey, and unsweetened cocoa powder, plus a little milk in a food processor. In less than five minutes you’ve got a rich, creamy and scrumptious chocolate pudding.

Sources:
  •   www.cupofjo.com
  •   www.youtube.com
  •   www.getinspiredeveryday.com
  •   www.avocadosfrommexico.com
  •   www.nomnompaleo.com
  •   www.seededatthetable.com

    Alice Osborne
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
    Email the author! alice@dvo.com


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