- Avocados are packed with vitamins your body needs to maintain its health. Included in the avocado are vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, which is why the fruit is sometimes referred to as the alphabet fruit!
- One avocado contains 975 mg of potassium, about 30% more potassium contained in one banana. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular disease.
- Half of an avocado contains about 4.5 grams of fiber, which amounts to between 10-20% daily value of fiber for the average adult. Fiber helps keep the bowels moving, lowers blood cholesterol, and also keeps you fuller for longer!
- Avocados are relatively high in fat, but the good news is that avocados are packed with monounsaturated fat, which is the GOOD fat that your body needs. Monounsaturated fats reduce risk of heart disease by lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL) and raising the good cholesterol (HDL).
- The GOOD fats in avocados also help with nutrient absorption when eaten with other foods, such as salads, or other vegetables and fruits. By adding avocados to your meals, you are maximizing the nutritional value of what you eat!
- Avocados are rich in antioxidants which is good for the heart and boosts your immune system.
- Fight off the risk of tumor growth with avocados! Women: the oleic acid helps prevent breast cancer. Men: the phytonutrients help prevent prostate cancer.
The Grilled Pesto/Avocado/Spinach Sandwich
Ingredients:
- I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light spread
- half a tomato
- 1/5 of an avocado
- spinach
- shredded mozzarella cheese
- pesto (I used store-bought pesto, but if you want, you can use your own pesto recipe!)
- two slices of 100% whole wheat bread
First, turn on the stove and heat up a pan on high or medium-high. While you wait for that, you can prepare your sandwich! (Of course, it tastes perfectly fine not grilled!) Take your two slices of bread and lightly spread the butter on each slice (the butter is meant to be on the outside of both slices so it can fry in the pan). Then spread pesto on one slice, then put on your spinach, sliced avocado and tomato and mozzarella cheese, followed by the top slice of bread. When your pan is ready to go, put the sandwich in the pan. You can press down on the top with a spatula to flatten it out a bit if you want. After about a minute, flip the sandwich over and cook the other side for about a minute. After that, your sandwich is ready to be served! YAY!
