Cuddle Up to Avocado

Avocados often strike fear in the hearts of dieters. Banished from traditional weight loss plans because of their calorie content, avocados have been maligned. But right here, right now we'll set the record straight. Avocados are an incredibly nutrient dense food and the type of heart-healthy fat they provide is a must have for everyone, whether on a diet or not.

Also known as the "alligator pear", avocados come in a few different versions. But it's the Florida-grown variety known as SlimCado^®, from Brooks Tropicals, that you'll want to put on your table. Why? They have half the fat and a third fewer calories than the leading California avocado. This pear-shaped fruit retains its green skin, even when ripe, and offers all the nutrition and flavor of avocado with just about 145 calories and 10 grams fat for 1/2 of a fruit. And hey, you get 4 grams of fiber with that and a very hefty dose of potassium, vitamin E and B vitamins. And just to go back to the fat content for a moment. Avocados are abundant in oleic and linoleic acids, both monounsaturated fats, and it is well documented that these fats can be instrumental in helping to lower total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels while also assisting with increasing HDL levels.

So, now that we know how fabulous this fruit is, nutritionally speaking, what else to do with it besides make guacamole or put some slices on a salad? Using ripe fruit, soft to the touch is key, so don't refrigerate it until it's the texture you want. If you're not using the entire fruit at once, shower it with a little lemon juice or vinegar, before wrapping, to keep the flesh from oxidizing and turning brown. Since avocados have such a creamy texture, they are often best paired with contrasting textured foods but can also lend creaminess in dishes you would least expect.

• Really,really soft avocado can be used turned into a sandwich spread, especially with some hot sauce or spices stirred into it.
• Cool soups for the summer are so refreshing and avocados can lend a rich creaminess without using any dairy. Tomato juice, avocado, celery, tahini, lime juice and onion in a blender makes for a fabulous chilled soup.
• Soft avocado slices with crunchy sliced fennel and juicy orange segments topped with mint leaves makes a colorful and nicely contrasted salad.
• Avocado for making dessert? No joke, it works beautifully to make a not-so-sweet chocolate dip perfect for dipping strawberries.
  
  1 cup ripe avocado
  or
  1/2 cup ripe avocado and 1/2 cup fresh papaya
  1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  3 Tbsp agave sweetener
  2 Tbsp maple syrup
  
  Combine all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Adjust sweeteners to your taste. Don't tell anyone what's in it and let people guess. They hardly ever can figure it out.
• If you like creamy salad dressings but steer clear because of the calories and fat, then make your own. In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, olive oil, vinegar, lime juice a little agave, garlic and fresh basil.