The Creamy Goodness of Avocados

Do you love avocado? I do! And despite the bad press they’ve gotten because of their high fat content, there are lots of good reasons to eat them. Here are some for you to consider:

• They’re a rich source of antioxidants, including the carotenoids alpha- and beta-carotene and lutein;
• They're loaded with vitamins and minerals as shown here;
• They’re high in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat prevalent in olive oil that helps to lower the risk of heart disease;
• They contain omega-3 fatty acids and help to control inflammation;
• When added to nutrient-rich salads, they help to boost nutrient absorption from the other vegetables, such as lycopene found in tomatoes;
• They’re a good source of fiber and low in carbohydrates, so they help to stabilize blood sugar levels;

Their mild flavor and creamy texture goes well with just about everything! Mash and spread them on toast, add them to salads, use them as mayonnaise on sandwiches, eat them with eggs, and mix them into salsa and gazpacho (you’ll boost the absorption of all that veggie power!). Here is a recipe for a gazpacho that I love to make during the summer. It’s quick, cool, and easy and loaded with flavor, fiber, and health promoting goodness!

For more information, check out The World's Healthiest Foods. How will you eat your avocado today??

Keeping it Simple

I’m big on simplifying things and I’ve written before about ways to do that, with personal care products, for example. This can also apply to food and our diets and is a particularly good idea if we want to maintain healthy eating habits in the midst of overwhelming schedules.

So how do we do this? Well, we plan and cook ahead. Here’s one example. Last week, I made a large batch of plain quinoa that I kept in the fridge. And then it became the focus of several very simple meals.

For lunch one day, I mixed it with avocado, organic strawberries, fresh-squeezed lemon juice and olive oil. And that was lunch. It was simple and delicious. I also mixed it with warm nut milk, nuts, seeds, and cinnamon for a hearty breakfast. Then I combined it with leftover butternut squash, chopped kale, bit of vegetable broth and some seasonings for a warm dish.

Keep a few healthy staples on hand and ready to eat and you’ll never have an excuse to eat poorly. It’s also better for the digestion and less likely that you’ll over eat when you keep your meals simple. Ever eaten a dozen different dishes from a buffet and felt awful afterwards? I’ve been there and the aftermath is no fun.

What are some of your favorite simple meals? Share them here!