Avocados rock!

I love avocados and so does my Mum which is pretty handy because they are so healthy. They have over 20 vitamins and minerals in them - a true super food! Yes, they are high in fat but it's mostly monounsaturated fat which is good for you. Its is a nutrient booster which helps enable the body to absorb cancer-fighting nutrients - from carrots for example. It's also great for your skin, helps regulate blood pressure and guard from heart disease and strokes as well as aiding digestion and helping the body to flush out toxins.

You can find lots of information about why avocados are good for you on the internet... just in case you don't believe me! :o)

So, we've been eating lots of avocados over the last few months - they are especially great for my Mum when she's feeling too ill from the chemo and doesn't feel like eating much and she'll normally just have it on a crisp bread.

I've included some of the recipes we've been using below:

Chocolate Paleo Pudding with Coconut Whip - provided by Soph and is an amazing vegan desert and I could eat it all day long!!

Ingredients2 ripe avocado
2 ripe banana
4 medjool dates, pits removed
1/2 cup cacao powder
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut milk
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt

Instructions
Place all ingredients into a bowl or food processor. mix until all ingredients are smooth.
Transfer to bowls of choice and refrigerate for 15 -20 minutes before serving.

Coconut Whip Cream topping
Ingredients1 can coconut milk  (full fat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon maple syrup

InstructionsPlace canned coconut milk in refrigerator overnight.
Open can without shaking or turning upside down. Carefully spoon out the top layer of thick coconut cream that has gathered at the top and add to a mixing bowl. Leave the white liquid part at the bottom in the can.
Add maple syrup and vanilla extract to the cream and any additional choice of flavouring.
Whip the coconut milk with hand mixer until creamy and you have thick whipped peaks.
Add to your Chocolate Paleo Pudding. It can also be refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Skin Deep Smoothie - from The Juice Master
- Helps improve skin tone, elasticity and many skin conditions...
Ingredients1/2 avocado
6 brazil nuts
1/4 cucumber
1/4 stick celery
4 large apples
ice cubes

InstructionsAdd avocado, brazil nuts and ice to the blender. Juice the rest then add to the blender and blend until smooth.

Vegan Protein Power Smoothie - Another Juice Master recipe
This smoothie includes all of the essential amino acids, natural sugars, fibre, vitamins A, B, B6, C and E, riboflavin, iron, calcium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, boron, niacin, magnesium, folic acid and carotenes... not bad for a little smoothie with no animal products!

Ingredients1/4 small pineapple
2 apples
1/2 ripe avocado
1 medium banana
ice cubes

Instructionsjuice pineapple and apples, add to blender with avocado and banana and ice. Blend until smooth.

Enjoy!

If you have any avocado recipes you'd like to share, send them over and we'll give them a go. x