7 Ways to Add Avocados to Your Diet and Why they are so Good

If you follow me on instagram (and if you don’t you should, ha!), it’s no secret, avocados are one of my favorite foods. I’d say a pretty healthy percentage of my scrumptious meals pictured there include the wholesome avocado!  Therefore; I’ve decided it’s high time I cover the fruit (yes, apparently they are technically a fruit)!  I’m going to give you tips on choosing them, 7 ways to add avocados to your diet, and why they are so good!

How to Choose Avocados:

Well this may make me sound really silly, but assuming someone else needs to know, I’ll tell the story.

Several years ago when I first decided I’d try my hand at some homemade guacamole, I went to the store and picked the BEST looking avocados I could find!  I was so excited, this was going to be some good stuff!  I got them home and couldn’t mash them.  They were hard as a rock!  So, I thought and questioned, maybe the guac I love is made in a food processor?!  Well, my food processor wouldn’t cut it either-literally.

Guys- moral of the story: if you want to use them right away, don’t pick the bright green, really pretty avocados!  Buy ones that are darker green and give slightly with a light squeeze.  You want them to feel a little soft, not hard.  But not so soft that they are starting to shrivel or feel mushy (these are over ripe and will have bad spots when you cut into them).  If you don’t want to use them right away, go ahead and buy the pretty green ones. Just leave them out on the counter to slowly ripen.

Most of you will probably already know “how to choose” avocados. But as a now experienced buyer of avocados and maker of guacamole, I would have been served well to have it spelled out for me during my first attempt!

7 Ways to add Avocados to your Diet:

First, let’s talk breaking into these things!  Simply cut the avocado in half, scoop out the pit and then scoop out the actual fruit.  If you are wanting slices or cubes use your knife to cut the flesh while it’s still in the skin then spoon it out onto whatever dish you’re adding it to! Easy!

Here is a short list of how our family uses avocados:

1. guacamole: here’s my recipe
2. cubed on top of eggs or my-go-to meal
3. sliced as a topping for burgers
4. plain
5. In a salad
6. as a spread instead of butter or mayo
7. blended in shakes

Why I like avocados SO much:

The fact that they are the main ingredient in guacamole is enough reason for me!  If that wasn’t enough for you, here are a few more reasons!

They are high in monounsaturated fats. Wait, fat is bad right?! Nope, not exactly. In this case there is actually plenty of research showing the opposite. According to this study, those who consume avocados  have a “significantly” smaller waist circumference, lower BMI and body weight, and are 50% less likely to have metabolic syndrome.  The type of fat they are high in, monounsaturated, is associated with aiding weight loss and blood sugar regulation.  This amazing food has even been shown to help prevent cancer!

If you weren’t enjoying avocados before, these are some pretty solid reasons to start!  Don’t you agree?

Look here for a few recipes.  If you have any tried and true ways you enjoy avocados, please share!