Avocados, a highly nutritious food, is often referred as "the alphabet fruit" because it contains nutrition A to Z, such as potassium, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, Vitamin B6, C, and E, to name a few. Rich in monounsaturated fats and high in fiber (one whole avocado has 13g of fiber!), avocados are a delicious food to add to meals. There are about 500 varieties of avocados. The most common sold in the US today is the Haas avocado, known for its dark purple-almost black pebbled skin and creamy texture. To select an avocado, press lightly into its skin. If it gives a lot, like a ripe tomato, it is ideal if you plan to mash it up and use it within a day. If it gives a little, like an unripened banana, it should hold its shape in your recipes for a few days. If it is hard, like a rock, it will need to ripen on your window sill for a few days until it provides that creamy and yummy consistency. Another benefit is that avocados are on the "clean 15 list", the annual list of fruits and vegetables the Environmental Working Group www.EWG.org says you can buy non-organic. It is not a heavily pesticide sprayed item but organic options are available as well. In addition to guacamole, avocados can be added to salads, substituted for dairy in smoothies, used to create puddings, spreads and salad dressings or just simply eaten as a side dish. Add avocados to your diet today!
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