by Linda Castillo
Many centuries ago, the world’s first avocado was grown in Mexico and to this day Mexico continues to be a major source for avocados. With Mexico’s fertile soil and climate, avocado trees are able to naturally bloom four times a year. And that’s lucky for you and me because that means we can enjoy avocados year-round no matter what the season. For more information about avocados visit Avocados from Mexico.
Now that you have a little history about the avocado, there is so much I want to share with you about this yummy superfood. From as long as I can remember I loved avocados. But the fact that I love avocados is only one reason why they are a staple in my home. Check it out all the reasons why the avocado is a staple in my home:
–Avovado is a superfood – Avocado is packed with antioxidants, minerals, phytonutrients, dietary fiber and monounsaturated fat. Due to this makeup, avocados have many health boosting elements. Adding avocados to your diet can:
- The healthy monounsaturated fat in avocados can help to reduce cholesterol levels when eaten instead of saturated fat. (www.avocado.org)
- The potassium and folate in avocados also contribute to heart health.(http://www.livestrong.com)
- The fiber in avocados can help maintain the health of the digestive tract and may aid in the prevention of colon cancer. (http://www.livestrong.com)
- The high levels of antioxidants in avocados may provide a protective effect against cancers, immune disorders and cellular aging. (http://www.livestrong.com)
– Everyone in my family loves avocados – This one is tricky because everyone in my family has a very distinct palette. So I always feel like I have struck gold when something appeals to everyone. My husband loves to top his carne asada tacos with avocado and sprinkle with lemon. For my little one, avocado was an easy first food to give her because it was to prepare – simply mash and serve! And for me, well I could pretty much add avocado to any dish and eat it up. One simple healthy recipe is traditional veggie scramble topped with avocado.
Ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- Baby Spinach
- Onion
- Baby bell pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cheese (any cheese you like)
- Avocado
- Cilantro
Preparation: Finely chop onions and bell pepper and sauté in olive oil. Then add baby spinach to pan and continue to sauté. Then add spinach. After about two minutes, add the eggs with the cheese. Continue mixing until eggs are fully cooked. You can add salt and pepper to taste. Remove egg from pan and place on plate. Top scrambled egg with sliced avocado and cilantro.
– Avocados make any dish taste better – Avocados taste delicious eaten alone or as an accent to an existing dish. They have a rich creamy flavor that works well alone or integrating into other dishes. Some of my favorite dishes to add an avocado include quesadillas, omelet, burgers, sandwiches, and making creamy dips and spreads.
Avocados can be included in endless dishes – Avocados are a great fruit to incorporate into many recipes from around the world. While their flavor is rich it is not too overpowering so it works well with a variety of dishes. Whether it is a traditional Latin dish or an Asian dish, adding avocado to the recipe adds some flair and more nutrients to the dish. There are so many restaurants incorporating avocados in traditional dishes in unique ways.
Do you want more recipes that have avocados? Then like the check out the Avocados from Mexico Fan Page for other great recipes. You can also get lots of other great recipes at the Avocados from Mexico website and follow Avocados from Mexico on Twitter.
Works cited and additional resources:
- http://www.livestrong.com/avocado
- http://www.avocado.org
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Avocados from Mexico and Latina Bloggers Connect.