Explore the Store: Avocado
Do you find yourself buying the same things when you are grocery shopping? Want to spice things up? Well, welcome to Explore the Store! Each week a new item found at your local grocery store will be featured.
The feature of the week is avocado!
What are avocados?
The exotic avocado fruit has gained a trendy following thanks to Instagram and #avocadotoast. Originally cultivated by Mesoamerican tribes in Central Mexico, we now have domesticated avocado trees in Mexico and California, where they are primarily grown.
There are more than four hundred varieties of avocados in the wild. The Hass avocado is the most widely available, commercially grown variety.
What do avocados taste like?
Avocados are creamy with a neutral and almost grassy flavor. How do you know if your avocado is ripe? Gently squeeze the fruit to check for its softness. The skin of the avocado should be dimply, blackish purple to the eye. When opened, the flesh should have a light green appearance and a creamy, buttery taste.
Potential health benefits
Avocados contain monounsaturated fats. According to the American Heart Association , monounsaturated fats can help reduce low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) or “bad” cholesterol levels in your blood, which leads to having a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. Fats are an essential part of our diet and support memory retention, concentration, and mood. Not an avocado fan? Peanut butter and olive oil are also good sources of monounsaturated fats.
How much do they cost?
Large Hass Avocado:
- Walmart – $0.68
- Kroger – $1.25
- Trader Joe’s “Teeny Tiny Avocados” – $2.99 for 6 count
Try these avocado recipes!
Have you tried avocados?
Let us know your favorite way to use them in the comments or tag us @UGAHealthCenter!
References:
Written by: Rebecca Reese, dietetics practicum student in the UHC Health Promotion Department