Avocados are the April Harvest of the Month
This month’s Harvest was recently popularized in American cuisine. The Avocado, originally from what is today Mexico, is a soft and savory fruit. It is traditionally served with many Mexican dishes but has grown increasingly popular in salads, on toast and as a side dish.
During the month of April, you may find avocados used more abundantly in a variety of recipes from our cafeterias.
Did You Know?
- An avocado has more potassium than a banana.
- Guacamole is loosely translated from Aztec word adumacamolli, which means avocado sauce.
- One avocado tree can produce up to 500 avocados a year.
Try These Delicious Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken and Avocado Taco Bowls
Avocado Hummus
Mango Avocado Salsa
How to Buy, Store & Prepare: It is important to be mindful of ripeness and timing when purchasing avocados. Avocados intended to be eaten the same day of purchase should be dark in color and slightly soft when squeezed. Avocados of this color and texture will only be good for 1-2 days. Avocados intended to be eaten more than 2 days from the date of purchase should be green and firm. Avocados can be stored at room temperature until they reach their peak ripeness and are ready to eat.
Making it Kid-Friendly: As with all produce items, when introducing them to kids it’s helpful to make them fun. Consider stuffing an avocado with a food your child already likes such as salsa, or cracking an egg into an avocado and baking it. Additionally, be mindful that children with latex allergies are more likely to have avocado allergies.
Nutrition and Health Benefits: Avocado is one of the only fruits in the world that contains monounsaturated fats. Because of this, avocados are very high in calorie compared to most other produce items. However, don’t let this steer you away from avocados. Avocados are rich in a heart healthy fat called monounsaturated fat. While new information about fats is emerging, it remains true that monounsaturated still appears to be the healthiest of all fats.
| Calories: 322 | Calcium: 23mg |
| Total Fat: 29g | Protein: 4g |
| Total Carbohydrate: 17g | Potassium: 973mg |
| Iron: 1mg | Vitamin D: 0mg |