It’s a very bold statement, but I am willing to put my life on the line for the benefits of avocados – literally!
Recently, I’ve been meeting more people, including new clients of mine who don’t like avocados. That’s just crazy talk to me, but I know everyone has their own preferences. It’s the same reaction I get when I tell people I hate cheese. The difference is, I can get all the nutrients I would get from cheese from plenty of other nutritious and whole foods, avocados being one of them. But when you leave avocados out of your diet, especially if you have other dietary restrictions/intolerances/allergies, you’re missing out on A LOT of health benefits. 
In this post, I want to share with you some ways to “mask” the avocado texture or taste so that you can enjoy an abundance of this superfood (ok maybe not ABUNDANCE, but in moderation just like everything else!). What if they go bad or ripen too fast? We will talk about that too!
I mean, I get it. Eating it on its own can be pretty boring and bland. Sometimes it feels like you’re ingesting pure fat. To be honest, I prefer to mask the taste a bit too. On its own it can make me gag. BUT – very rarely is avocado really eaten straight out of the shell. It goes great in dressings, sauces, smoothies, desserts (whips, puddings, ice cream, cakes, etc), spreads, and salads. My personal favourite is making guacamole out of ripe avocados. MMMMMM
First, let me convince you to at least consider this amazing food by sharing just some of its amazing health benefits.
Avocado Benefits
- High in FAT. The buzz these days in most health blogs is that FAT does not make you FAT. Overeating and stress can make you fat. Your body needs these “good fats” that avocados proudly contain for optimal brain health, hormone balance and production, blood sugar control, and yes, WEIGHT LOSS. These good fats also lower inflammation, control cholesterol, and increase the absorption of fat-soluable vitamins (ADE&K), giving you healthier eyes, smoother skin, and shinier hair!
- Loaded with fiber. They contain more soluable fiber than most foods. This type of fiber attaches to cholesterol particles and takes them out of the body, helping to reduce overall cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. This also facilitates proper bowel regularity and maintains proper weight control. This fiber isn’t well absorbed so it doesn’t contribute to the blood sugar spikes that can put you at risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If you already have diabetes, soluable fiber can even help keep your condition under control (consult with your doctor).
- Protein, trace minerals, folate, phytonutrients, water-soluable vitamins. Avocados have more protein and less sugar than any fruit, which helps build muscle and burn fat. They also have about twice the amount of potassium as bananas, which is important for cellular function, healthy blood pressure levels, and metabolism. Avocados’ folate content helps prevent birth defects and neural tube defects, and may prevent strokes. Phytonutrients found in avocados are anti-inflammatory and are key to reducing degenerative disorders that can affect every part of the body. Water-soluable vitamins such as B and C are not stored in the body and need to be replenished daily – so eat your avo’s daily! 🙂
- You stay fuller longer. Because it is so nutrient dense, avocados can keep you fuller longer, helping you control cravings and manage your weight.
Avocados aren’t just great to consume. They can be used on the skin as moisturizer as well.
How to Store Avocados
Store fully ripe avocados in the refrigerator. If you’ve got fully ripe avocados that you do not want to use right away, place them in the fridge in a plastic bag. There, they’ll usually keep well for another three to five days.
If you cut them open and don’t use the whole thing, squeeze some lemon or lime juice on them and place in an air-tight container or tightly covered clear plastic wrap. The fruit can be stored in your refrigerator for a day.
You can also do the same as the above and FREEZE the avocado, after scooping the flesh out of the shells. These can last up to 5-6 months and are best used for guac or smoothies once frozen.
Recipes
And now the best part, eating them! Here are some of my favourite ways to eat avocados, taken from my own recipes and around the web:
- Have a bunch of ripe avocados? Make some GUAC!
- A dozen and 3 ways to have avocados on TOAST! It makes a delicious and nutritious breakfast or snack. My favourite and easiest combination is avo spread on toast with a dash of sea salt, pepper, and cayenne
- Leftover Chicken and Avocado Spread in seconds!
- Avocado Pesto
- DESSERT! Dark Chocolate Truffles
- Key Lime Tart
- My newest love: Avocado-Egg cucumber toppers
- Salted Chocolate Avocado Pie. My client made me this once and I ended up proposing to her after – HAHA 😛
So there you have it. The ultimate superfood: avocados! Let me know if I’ve at least sparked some interest. Happy eating!
