Spotlight on Avocado!

Afternoon, blog world! I thought I’d do a post on one of my favorite foods, the avocado!

Also known as the Alligator Pear (hehe!), this delectable food is actually a fruit from the Persea Americana, a tall evergreen tree that can grow up to 65 feet in height.

Avocados are native to Central and South America and have been cultivated in these regions since 8,000 B.C.

Avocados are a good source of vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate and copper. Avocados are also a good source of potassium: they are higher in potassium than a medium banana.

Although they are fruits, avocados have a high fat content of between 71 to 88% of their total calories – about 20 times the average for other fruits. A typical avocado contains 30 grams of fat, but 20 of these fat grams are health-promoting monounsaturated fats, especially oleic acid.

Avocados are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. Adequate intake of potassium can help to guard against circulatory diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke.

information from World’s Healthiest Foods

And now, some yummy avocado recipes! From Avocado Central

Classic Guacamole

Ingredients

4 ripe, Fresh California Avocados, peeled and pitted

2 lemons, juiced

2 tsp. TEASPOON_USVolumeminced garlic

1 tomato, diced

¹/₄ cup cilantro, chopped

¹/₄ cup diced red onion

¹/₄ cup ground cumin

5 Jalapeño chiles or Serrano chiles, minced; 3 of the chiles seeded

Salt and chile powder to taste

InstructionsIn a large bowl, coarsely mash avocados and combine with lemon juice. Add the remaining ingredients to the avocado mixture, stirring until combined. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve with tortilla chips.

Mango, Papaya, and Avocado Salsa

Ingredients

1 ripe, Fresh Hass Avocado, seeded, peeled and cut in ½- inch dice

1 ripe mango, cut in ½- inch dice

1 ripe papaya (strawberry, if possible), cut in ½- inch dice

¹/₄ cup diced sweet red peppers

¹/₄ cup diced yellow peppers

1 Tbsp. minced jalapeño

1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro

1 lime, juice only

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients and season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

Enjoy this tree!!

Guacamole

I like avocado slices on sandwiches, and I love love love to mash it up simply with some sea salt and lemon juice and make my own simple guacamole.

What is your favorite way to enjoy an avocado?

Running Stats Monday

Distance: 3.0 miles

Time: 45 minutes

Calories burned: 300

Combination of nausea and heartburn made for a very difficult run. But instead of quitting, I powerwalked through the distance.

Take that, food poisoning! Hiya!