Category: Food

Avocados are Amazing!

This blog post is an ode to the avocado!  If you haven’t gotten addicted yet to avocados – go for it!  It has the nutrients your body needs and is very heart-healthy.  One avocado contains nearly 20 vitamins and minerals including: 14g of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), 0 mg cholesterol, 12g carbs, 3 g protein, 24% DV Vitamin C and 708 mg potassium – that’s almost 2x potassium than in a banana!  It is high in fiber – improving digestion.  Avocados are also known for decreasing the risk of depression  and protection against cancer.

Screen Shot 2019-02-10 at 7.35.35 PM.png

Having a MUFA at each meal is said to help with weight loss and heart-health, just to name a few benefits.  Eating fat slows down the breakdown of carbs, which helps to keep sugar levels in the blood stable.  Fat is essential for skin health too.

Almost everyday I have an avocado in my morning smoothie, an avocado in my salad for lunch, and guacamole for a snack with pita chips and carrots.  You can say I’m obsessed and I’m proud of it.  It’s really hard to get enough potassium, and many gurus try to sell their powdered drinks so you’ll reach your potassium for the day, but I think eating real foods is the way to go – ahem…the avocado is the way to go!

Avocados can be expensive, so I usually buy the bag rather than individual ones – it’s always cheaper.  If you shy away from how to cut them open, watch a YouTube video or two or just buy an avocado cutter.

My scoop on carbs + insight into cauliflower

Hello!  Do you need to watch your carbs, or are curious about the magic of cauliflower?  Read further!  I had to watch my carbs when I had gestational diabetes with two out of my three pregnancies.  I was so confused when they told me to eat 30 g or less of carbs at each meal – I always thought it was the sugar count that mattered.  Sugars matter, especially refined sugars, but I was surprised to see how my blood sugar levels were affected by carbohydrates, even when the sugar count was low.

Nowadays, my blood sugar levels are pretty good, but my PCP still says it’s good to keep the carbs low, especially those derived from refined sugars.  Rice is such a staple, and that’s one area that I’ve targeted.  Have you tried cauliflower rice?  It’s been fabulous!  Check it out – here below is an option that our family (including our three daughters) has loved!

Screen Shot 2018-05-27 at 6.13.21 PM.png

The nutritional content is great…  DVs: 25% Vitamin A, 60% Vitamin C, 20% Vitamin K, 10% Folic Acid.

I also substitute cauliflower pizza dough crust when able.  A lot of pizza places have that option now – amazing!!

Cauliflower is also high in WATER content!  It’s so important to have water rich foods, especially in the summer months.

I can’t believe that cauliflower has only recently become a staple food for me – and I hope you consider it if you’re looking to reduce your carbs in popular dishes, or just looking for a change!  Vegetables are always a good thing in my opinion!