Why avocados are so f*#!king good for you.

Here are the nutritional facts about this awesome fruit. Yes, fruit. The King (or Queen?) of fruit.

1) More fibre than any other fruit. This will keep you satisfied longer (think: less cravings) and help eliminate toxins from your body. More fibre = healthier digestive tract.
2) Vitamins and minerals: a shit ton.  In particular: A, K C, B 6, folic acid and more potassium than a banana (by up to 60%)
3) Antioxidants: a shit ton. In particular the ones that are amazing for healthy eyes and a strong immune system.
4) The fat in avocado is the good stuff. DO NOT BE AFRAID!!! This fat helps you burn fat. (You read that correctly). EFAs. You've heard of these guys and what they do. Hormone and heart health. Kind of important stuff, right?! These fats help lower bad cholesterol and boost the good. The fat in avocado is essential for absorption of certain nutrients in all the other food you eat, too. EMBRACE THE FAT.

Go to the interwebs  images to find out how to tell if an avocado is ready. Essentially, they should be the colour that is in the photo - dark, but not super black. Going by feel isn't always the way to tell. Removing the bottom 'stem' is a way of knowing. If the underneath is pitch black it is probably too ripe. If it is still a bit pale...awesome.
Cutting an avocado: Cut in half. Open. Pit on one side. Jam knife into pit (not with point of knife, with the side!), give it a slight twist and pull out pit. Hold half of avocado in palm and make lengthwise and then crosswise marks in flesh with knife. Then scoop out flesh with a spoon. Just scrape along the inside of the peel. It's fun  :)

So. What's the problem? Well, some of you hate the texture of avocado. 

To help you  with this "ewwwwwww" issue I am adding a recipe for a delicious avocado dressing. Dressing is a bit of a misleading word, though. This stuff is pretty thick and can be used in a sandwich or drizzled over fish, chicken, tofu, beef. Over any veggie, potato, rice.....
I add it to shredded chicken or quinoa in a bowl with celery, onion, more avocado ( I really love avocado), tomato, etc.... This can be a sandwich filling (with good, clean bread of course!) or a salad. Delicious.
So make this stuff and be creative with its application   :)

(PS: buttermilk is in this recipe. Some of you know my feelings about dairy, ahem. However. as I have said before - cooking with a bit of it is fine. Especially buttermilk as it is filled with healthy probiotics.)

Avocado Dressing (this makes over 2 cups, so you can share!):

2 avocados
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon honey
2 green onions 
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup water
minimum 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper (then to taste - I add way more)

Throw it all in a blender or food processor and blend away!
Taste and add more lemon juice, honey salt and or pepper until it is perfect for your taste buds.

You can safely eat avocado every day and every part of your body would be thrilled if you did. 
They are sooooooo versatile. Add it to your smoothie. Make a dessert with it. Smush it on bread. Make guacamole. Stuff them. Stuff stuff  with them - fun with words and food. 

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