AKA The Best Day Ever
Who doesn’t love avocados? These small fruits seem to be all the craze recently. They can be seen on toast, in salads, in smoothies, ice cream and even on clothing and as art. However you chose to celebrate avocados today, make sure you pay these nutrient dense fruits the respect they deserve.
The Origins of The Avocado
The edible avocado we all know and love is the fruit of the avocado tree. The edible part of these fruits is the green creamy inside surrounding the large pit or seed in the center. The trees are grown in subtropical climates and do not handle freezing temperatures. Avocados are mostly grown in Mexico, South American Countries, Spain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and in American States such as California, Texas, Arizona, Hawaii and Florida.
We are probably most familiar with Hass Avocados. This is because the Hass avocado brand, originating in California, is responsible for 95% of avocados consumed in America.
These green creamy fruits have been cultivated in countries for many centuries. However, it was only fairly recently that people really started obsessing over the avocado. In fact, the first reports of chefs smashing these fruits onto toast are only dated back to the 1990s. According to the Washington Post, the first sighting of avocado toast on a menu was in 1993 by Sydney Chef, Bill Granger, at his café, bills.
Why Are We Obsessed?
Although the history of the avocado is not too exciting, the health benefits of these small green fruits is. They are not only beneficial for our bodies when consumed, they also have been found to help in other aspects such as skin and hair care. Listed below are some facts about these nutrient-rich fruits.
- Avocados are nutrient rich.
- They contain high levels of potassium.
- They are a good source of fat.
Our Avocado Toast Sprinkled With Salt and Pepper.
- They are loaded with fiber.
- Avocados help with bone and eye health.
- They aid in natural detoxification and improved digestion.
- They help to promote healthy skin and hair.
How to Celebrate This Day
A serving size of an avocado is 1/3 of an avocado which is 80 calories, 8 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbohydrates, and 1 gram of protein. The best thing about these little fruits is that they can be enjoyed in an unlimited amount of ways. Some of our favorite ways to enjoy avocados are guacamole, in an omelet, blended in a smoothie, on top of a salad, wrapped in a taco, on a sandwich instead of mayonnaise, and of course mashed up on toast. A third of an avocado just lightly seasoned and enjoyed simply with a fork or spoon is also a great go-to snack.
To celebrate National Avocado Day here at Key Nutrition we decided to make avocado pudding. Below is the recipe we created!
1 Large Ripe Avocado
Avocado Pudding.
2 Tbsp. Cacao Powder
1 Tbsp. Honey (add more for more sweetness)
1/2 Tbsp. Cinnamon
Dash of Salt
Top with Cinnamon, Dark Chocolate Chips and Mint
Sarah Domino, Penn State Intern
