Thursday, October 6, 2011

Afternoon Snack Ideas With Avocado

Avocados pair well with both savory vegetables and fruits.


An afternoon snack is a good way to keep your metabolism working while staving off hunger between lunch and dinner. Avocados are an excellent choice of snack, packed with healthy oils and antioxidants as well as being delicious and easy to incorporate into many recipes. Avocados can be eaten plain or spiced up with fun dips and added to other snack recipes to make for a tasty afternoon pick-me-up.


Avocado Dips


Avocados lend themselves easily to a number of dips that can be paired with chips or vegetables to make an easy, healthy afternoon snack. Guacamole is the best-known avocado-based dip, but avocados can also be mashed with cream cheese, pureed with other vegetables, like peppers and asparagus, or simply combined with lemon juice, salt and pepper to make a healthy dip. Spread avocado dips on bread or enjoy with raw veggies and chips for your midday munch.


Plain and Simple


Avocado is a food that can be as delicious unadorned as when it is a part of other recipes. Try a few slices of avocado on toast, sprinkled with a little salt, pepper and lemon juice, for a simple afternoon snack. Chop an avocado into slices, add a pinch of salt and eat with your fingers for a tasty treat, or make a plate of chopped raw veggies that includes slices of avocado, then squeeze lime juice over it to give them a fresh, sharp kick.


Soups and Salads


As well as being a stand-alone food, avocados add taste and color to many soups and salads that can be enjoyed as a light midday snack. Cube an avocado and add it to your favorite salad, or cut it into small chunks and garnish soups. Avocados pair particularly well with tomato and other vegetable-based soups and in salads go well with pine nuts, fresh greens and vegetables.








Sweet Avocado Snacks


Avocado is traditionally thought of as a savory food, so it may be surprising to find that they feature in many sweet snacks as well. Avocados can be simply paired with fresh fruits, such as berries, bananas, oranges and peaches, for a light and refreshing snack. There are also some nontraditional avocado recipes that make great snacks, such as frozen avocado pops and avocado chocolate pudding. Take advantage of the avocado's creamy and rich flavor to add depth and texture to sweet treats.

Tags: well with, afternoon snack, Avocados pair, lemon juice, paired with, salt pepper, slices avocado