Mar 23 - Pretoria

ADVERTORIAL
Let’s toast to
AVOS
A celebration of the trendy and healthy avo
Over the years, foodies and consumers have been ‘adding an avo’ to
their meals. This year avos tick many of the boxes on the Everyday
Health Top 10 Healthy Food Trends list for 2023 as well!
One of the listed trends, ‘plants in more places’, encourages new
ways to eat fruits and vegetables. It cites an ‘upswing in the
creative use of vegetables and fruits as people strive to hit that
five-a-day recommendation. For example - using avocado in the
place of butter’.
Other trends in the report, where the avo is right at home, include:
‘more plant-based options’, ‘mood-boosting foods’ and ‘food
for your gut’. ‘More plant-based options’ speaks to the growing
trend of people consciously choosing to eat less meat. As a result,
interest in meat alternatives and interesting fruit and veg options
is increasing across the globe. This is where avos come into their
own as an incredibly versatile fruit.
‘Mood-boosting foods’ refers to feel-good foods that help ward
against depression and support brain health. Foods higher in good
fats may lower the risk of depression and anxiety and considering
one avocado contains 13g of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids,
there’s definitely a spot for them in that category!
New research has also shown that eating avos may benefit healthy
gut flora. This puts avos on the list as one of the good guys when it
comes to the ‘food for your gut’ trend as well. As you can see, there
are plenty reasons to ‘add an avo’ to your meals this year!
Avocado Halves,
White Bean and
Sundried Tomato Salad
Serves 4, preparation time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
2 large ripe avocados, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
avocado or olive oil, 125 ml (½ cup) spring
onions (chopped), 30 ml (2 tbsp) salted
capers (rinsed), Fresh basil leaves, to taste,
120 g / 250 ml (1 cup) pitted green olives
(finely chopped), 2 cloves garlic (grated),
60 ml (¼ cup) red wine vinegar, 1 chilli,
diced (optional), 410 g can white beans
(drained), 120 g / 250 ml (1 cup) marinated
sundried tomato (chopped), 200 g cherry
tomatoes (rinsed), Microgreens to garnish
Method:
1. Cut the avocados in half and
remove the stones.
2. Place the oil, spring onions,
capers, basil, olives, garlic,
vinegar and chilli into a
bowl and mix to combine.
3. Mix the remaining
ingredients in a separate
bowl, and spoon into
the avocado halves,
drizzle with the
olive mixture.
4. Serve with
crusty bread.
For more info and recipes, visit avocado.co.za , like us on Facebook @iloveavocadoSA and follow us on Instagram @iloveavossa