With the kickoff of the 2010 World Cup this past Friday, I've been glued to ESPN and ABC a decent amount this weekend. When you've got a group of soccer fans hovered around a TV, I can't think of any snack more crowd-pleasing than guac and chips. Guacamole's gotten some bad press, so let's dispel a couple of misbeliefs...
a) Avocado is packed with incredibly healthy omega-3, mono-unsaturated fats, great for your heart, cholesterol and anti-aging/wrinkles (why do you think so many face- masks are made from mashed avocado? It's amazing for plump gorgeous skin!).
b) Avocado and/or guacamole will NOT pack on extra pounds, unless of course you're eating massive quantities of it on a daily basis.
c) A 1/2 cup of sliced avocado is just 117 calories and 10g of GOOD fat, so don't stress about the number! You'll always find that good fats and fresh ingredients fill you up fast. Avocado is so rich and creamy that even a small amount goes far to satisfy you quickly. Take-home message: eat up, about 1/3 cup guac per serving and just watch those chips. a serving or so, about 15 chips, and you're golden.
d) Avocado is actually a fruit, who knew!?
Here's my super-simple recipe for killer guacamole, great for World Cup watching and beyond. Try pairing it with blue or yellow corn chips by Food Should Taste Good - awesome chips made solely from whole grains and organic ingredients. Not to mention they're lower on the sodium and have a decent of protein per serving which gets you full that much faster (harder to over-do-it handful after handful!). Become a FSTG Facebook fan for coupons, giveaways and more.
photo courtesy of Flickr
Guacamole with Tomato & Jalapeno
2 avocadoes, peeled and pitted
juice of 1 lime
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cumin
1 medium vine-ripened tomato
¼ cup red onion, diced
2 tablespoons cilantro, minced
1 teaspoons jalapeno, minced
Place avocadoes, lime juice, salt and cumin in a medium bowl and mash until smooth, or slightly chunky. Mix in tomato, red onion, cilantro and jalapeno and serve.
