Avocados are a great source of healthy fats and nutrition, but they’re more than just for guacamole! Here are 10 Ways You Didn’t Know You Could Use Avocados that will open up your avocado horizons!
It’s no secret I am head over heels in love with avocados. I love their flavour, their texture, their versatility and most importantly, their nutritional benefits.
Avocados are an AMAZING source of monounsaturated fat, which actually helps lower cholesterol. They get a bad rap for being high in fat, but I am just so over that argument. We all need FAT. Low-fat diets have been disproven as an effective weight-loss tactic and depriving yourself of fat is actually harmful for your body. Like any food, you can’t go gorging on 20 of them a day, but in moderation (I eat about 1/2 of one a day) they are a fantastic source of nutrition.
Want silky hair, clear skin and better yet, to feel like a bad-ass, ain’t no stoppin’ me, taking over the world kind of bae?
THEN EAT YOUR FAT.
There are tons of sources of healthy fats, but clearly my favourite is avocado. And while I could probably eat guacamole and avocado toast for eternity, there’s actually tons of other ways you probably didn’t know you could use avocados. So prepare to have your mind blown because this little fruit (yes, avocado is a fruit) is setting itself up for world domination.
1. As a Fat Substitute in Baking
Ditch the butter and oils and moistens your baked goods with avocado. It’s usually a 1-t0-1 substitution once mashed but it also adds a yummy depth of flavour too. I LOVE these Healthy Avocado Brownies!
2. As a Salad Dressing
Want all of those good vitamins and minerals from your salads to absorb completely? Combining vegetables with fat helps increase their absorption and also adds a ton of flavor to your boring old salads! How about this Creamy Balsamic Avocado Dressing from Eating Bird Food?
3. As a Cream Substitute in Mousse or Puddings
Is there anything better than a creamy and decadent chocolate mousse? The answer is NO. Except when they’re laden with sugar and cream. How about this equally creamy alternative Mint Chocolate Mousse from The Quirky Princess? No one will ever know there are two avocados in there!
4. As a Moisturizing Face Mask
Avocados aren’t just for food! Their high levels of monounsaturated fats also make them amazing for your skin. My current obsession is with this nourishing face mask made with avocados, honey and banana. It is the perfect moisturizer for wintertime!
5. As a Sandwich Base
Skip the bread and make your sandwiches in an avocado instead! Sometimes we just don’t want all the carbs or bread just isn’t seeming all that appealing. Avocados to the rescue! There are infinite ways to stuff your avocados to suit any craving. I love these 5 Avocado Boat Ideas from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen!
6. As a Healthier Frosting Alternative
Things that you should never go near: store-bought frosting. They are PURE SUGAR so put down the funfetti frosting and walk away. But it’s all good because Running to the Kitchen has a healthy frosting alternative made from you-know-what, avocados!
7. In Fruit Roll-Ups
Replace god-knows-what in those sugar-laden store-bought fruit-roll ups with these Avocado Mango Fruit Roll-Ups. If your childhood was basically defined by fruit roll-ups, Food Pleasure and Health has answered all of your childhood prayers. P.S. No dehydrator required!
8. In a Smoothie
Add loads of creaminess to your smoothies by subbing in avocado. The secret to the creamiest smoothie or milkshake is obviously avocado. Better yet, it helps prevent a post-smoothie sugar-crash so you can be full all morning long. Currently drinking: This Blueberry Superfood Smoothie!
9. As a Vegan Mayo Substitute
Admittedly, I kind of feel like I’m cheating on eggs, but mayo also totally freaks me out. Not an issue anymore with this Vegan Avocado Mayo from The Full Helping. P.S. My Avocado Tuna Salad tastes amazing with avocados instead of mayo too!
10. As a Hair Conditioner
My girl Cassie from Back to Her Roots totally gets my obsession with using avocado for outside your body. Currently, she’s digging this whipped avocado honey and olive oil hair mask, which helps keep her hair moisturized and conditioned. All hail the mighty avocado!
So there you have it! 10 awesome and unique ways to use avocados that you may have never thought of! If this post doesn’t convince you that avocados are the ultimate super-fruit, then I don’t know what will!
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Avocados from Mexico – Canada. I was compensated for my time. Thank you for supporting the amazing brands that help me bring more awesome content to you guys!
So tell me, what’s your favorite way to use avocados?
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22 Comments
Yvonne
August 27, 2018 at 1:20 amAbsolutely loved all these avocado ideas. Look forward to trying them all and buying them won’t be a problem since I have avocado monsters at home that just love them. My toddlers 2 & 4 will share between 1 & 2 avocados in the morning. Now I have no excuses with these recipes to try new things with them.
Cassie
November 16, 2015 at 11:25 amI love avocados in #2, #4, #5, and #10! MMMMM!
Janelle @ Wholly Healthy
November 9, 2015 at 3:22 amGreat post! I have not used avocado in baking or mousse, but I really need to try it. I love avocado on sandwiches and instead of mayo.
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:20 amagreed! My avocado tuna salad is a lunch staple!
Emilie @ Emilie Eats
November 9, 2015 at 12:13 amAll of these are just incredible!! Especially the ones where I get to shove avocado in my face in various ways.
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:20 amhhaahahahha my sentiments exactly!
Nikole
November 8, 2015 at 3:10 pmThese are all such fun ways to use avocados!
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:20 amLike the list could go on for days…but you already know that 😉
Emily @ Love A Latte
November 8, 2015 at 3:06 pmI love avocados on sandwiches and salads. They certainly do the trick with some cacao powder in a smoothie. We buy at least a bag/week because my toddler will eat a whole one in one sitting. No complaints here!
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:21 amLife goals: pump by future children full of avocados haha. The best!
Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen
November 8, 2015 at 12:11 pmLove this post because I’m a diehard avocado fangirl too! I love them in puddings, smoothies, and brownies (those brownies on the floor in my IG photo were sadly avocado brownies) but most of all on toast with eggs!
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:22 amomg so tragic. My heart was crushed seeing them on the floor, but now even more that I know they were avocado brownies!
She Rocks Fitness
November 8, 2015 at 11:32 amAvocados on toast with all the hot sauce…So simple and so good!
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:23 amso like my lunch every single day haha <3
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West
November 8, 2015 at 11:17 amI’m with you on the half-of-an-avo a day at least diet, sometimes I even have a full one. I usually just eat it plain, but would love to try out avo in dessert! Great options here, lady! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:28 amI could so eat an entire avocado plain no problem. And then in 50 other ways too. They are seriously my fave!
Kelsey
November 8, 2015 at 9:51 amIs it weird I don’t buy avocados but I am all game to eat them when other people serve them to me? After a bad rotten experience in college, I just can’t seem to buy them! But since I could probably find ways to eat them/use them without actually having to eat them by themselves… I could make this work!
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:29 amOh no!!! Well next time I see you I will make sure you get a years worth of avocado recipes into your tummy. Rotten experiences are the worst!
Kelsey
November 10, 2015 at 8:25 amSounds like the best plan ever. I’m still sad that experience from almost FIVE years ago still affects me. But at least it doesn’t stop me when others give me avocados. =)
Stella @ Stellicious Life
November 8, 2015 at 9:36 amI LOVE avocados! 😀 And though I was aware of many unusual uses one can use them (healthy baking fat in brownies, chocolate pudding, etc.) but never heard of using it as frosting! You piqued my interest, will definitely have to give it a try 😀 (Loved your summer avocado popsicle idea as well 🙂 )
Davida Kugelmass
November 9, 2015 at 11:29 amOmg I totally forgot to include that recipe! I need you to remind me of these things all the time. Basically I need a little Stella on my shoulder 😉
Stella @ Stellicious Life
November 10, 2015 at 8:55 amLol, that would be great, we could chat all day-long, and I could taste all the delicious food you make! 😉