Yes. That’s it. Just avocado. And no, I’m not being lazy with today’s recipe! Let me explain:

Every week at our local farmer’s market, without fail our favorite avocado farmers split an avocado, drizzle each half with lime juice, add a pinch of salt and give them to Kenya and Chloe to eat in their stroller. Five minutes later, all that’s left are the paper plates and the avocado shells. This ritual has been going on for over two years and I think it’s the most satisfying and complete meal either of my kids have all week. It’s always the simple pleasures in life that make us the happiest, and since weelicious is all about fast, fresh and easy, what could be a better recipe to post today than just….avocado.

I’m not exactly sure how many avocados my family goes through each week, but suffice to say it’s a lot. We use them in tons of recipes like guacamole, (yes, shakes!), sandwiches, dips, quesadillas, sushi, salads and more. Avocados are a superfood that should be an essential addition to your kid’s diet as they provide nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-Vitamins and folic acid. They’re also one of the best sources of monounsaturated fats of any food. And don’t forget, avocado is actually a fruit and its creamy, smooth texture and mild taste not only make it a perfect ingredient for both sweet and savory dishes but are also food qualities kids tend to love.

No matter how you decide to eat your avocado, one thing I can assure you of is that you’ll be happy!

Avocado (Serves 2)

1 Avocado
1 Small Lemon or Lime
1/4 Tsp Salt

1. Using a sharp knife, cut the avocado lengthwise around the seed.
2. Hold the knife in one hand and the avocado half in the other and gently tap the knife into the pit with just enough force that the blade of the knife goes into the avocado pit.
3. Gently twist the knife until the pit comes out.
* At this point I like to cut through the avocado into a checkerboard pattern like the picture above, but you can also leave it as is.
4. Squeeze a bit of the lemon juice onto the avocado halves and sprinkle with a bit of salt.
5. Serve with a spoon.

Avocado Tip: If you want to know how to pick and when serve avocados, check out these two links that feature great tips:
How to pick a ripe avocado
How to pick ripe avocados

We’ve been having a lot of fun doing impromptu polls on the weelicious Facebook page. The other day I asked the question “do your kids like avocados?” and overwhelming number people responded. Not only did most parents say that their kids like avocado, they said they love them! Avocados are heavenly — creamy, smooth and delicious — but did you know they’re actually a fruit (for years I thought they were a vegetable)?

A few years ago I did a recipe for Guacamol-wee, which was designed to be an introduction for babies to this tasty dip. This Big Kid Guacamole is the next step up — for a kid that really loves the stuff! Whether you’re making Black Bean Cakes, Nachos, Fish Tacos or any other Mexican-inspired weelicious recipe, this guacamole will add an extra dimension of flavor and nutrition and your kids will love it!

Big Kid Guacamole (Serves 4-6)

3 Avocados
2 Tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 Tbsp Red Onion, finely diced
2 Tbsp Cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1/2 a Lime
1/4 Tsp Salt

1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pit.
2. Scoop the flesh out and using a wooden spoon or fork and mash the avocado. Allow a few small chunks to remain, you don’t want to puree it.
3. Fold in the remaining ingredients until completely incorporated.
4. Serve.