Avocado Nutrition

Avocado nutrition and other avocado facts - it's NOT a veggie! It's a fruit - a delicious, creamy one.

Avocados make a good dip that goes with chips, breadsticks or cut up pita bread.



How to buy: Avocados only ripen after they are picked. Chances are good that you'll never find a ripe avocado in the store that hasn't been bruised.

The best thing to do is to buy firm, unblemished ones a few days before you need them.

You want to find green, glossy fruit that will darken over time (some varieties turn black). When ripe, they will have a slight "give" to them, without feeling soft and mushy.

How to store: They take 4 to 7 days to ripen at room temperature. Put them on the counter top a few days before you eat them.

They'll ripen even faster (at room temperature) if you put them in a paper bag. If they ripen before you are ready for them, put them in the refrigerator. They'll last a few more days when kept dark and cool.

Avocado Nutrition Facts:

A few more facts about avocados - they're a great source of vitamins B6, C and K, fiber, copper, folate and potassium. They contain more potassium than a medium size banana!

They also have a very high fat content, about 30 grams - around 20 times the average of other fruit.

Other stuff you can do with it:

• The flesh of a ripe avocado soothes sunburned skin. Just cut the fruit in half and rub it gently over the burn.
• For avocado recipes - add it to a fruit smoothie.
• Mush the flesh up to make a paste that can be applied to rashes and rough skin to make it smoother.

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