Avocado: January’s Harvest of the Month
The new year brings new trends, including the ever-growing movement of topping toast with mashed avocado instead of butter. Unlike butter, avocado is free of cholesterol — plus, it’s rich in vitamins and minerals such as folate, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium.
One avocado provides more than half the daily value of dietary fiber, which supports digestion and helps keep hunger at bay. It is also abundant in monounsaturated fats that are essential for brain health. For a simple and filling treat, you can cut an avocado in half, remove the pit, sprinkle on a pinch of salt and eat it using a spoon.
If you’d like to eat avocado right away, pick one that is deep green, purple or near-black in color and indents slightly when you apply gentle pressure. Avocados that are not yet ripe will be lighter green and very firm, and they will ripen within a few days at room temperature. Store unripe avocados on the counter away from moisture and direct sunlight in order to speed up the ripening process. To slow down ripening, store them in the refrigerator.
Once your avocados are ready to eat, there are a variety of foods you can make with them that the whole family can enjoy. Many kids, like adults, enjoy the creamy texture of an avocado. Try blending the avocados in smoothies, pureeing them into fruit popsicles or making a fun guacamole with colorful chips. You can also prepare a decadent chocolate pudding by blending avocados with cocoa powder, honey and a splash of milk.
Check out these tasty recipes: