a white background with a few lines on it

How to Pick the Perfect Avocado

Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP • Sep 16, 2018
How to Pick the Perfect Avocado

  Football season is here, and you know what that means – CHIPS AND GUAC, PEOPLE!  Sure you can pay for the premade stuff, but nothing compares to homemade!

The first step to making amazing guacamole?  Picking out the perfect avocados.

Your step-by-step guide

#1: Scan

Color isn’t a surefire way to determine if an avocado is ripe or not, but it’s a good place to start.  Skip the avocados that are bright green (no way they’re ripe).  Instead, scan for darker green avocados.  If an avocado is black it’s too far gone.

#2: Sneak Peak

Peel off the small stem at the top of the avocado to reveal what’s going on underneath.  If it’s green or light brown underneath you’re good to go.  If it’s dark brown the avocado is overripe.

#3: Get Touchy

Pirst check for any bruises and soft spots.  Then hold the avocado in the palm of your hand and lightly squeeze.  If the avocado is firm, it’s underripe.  If it’s really soft, it’s overripe.  You want it to barely “give”!

#3: Practice Makes Perfect

If you don’t get it right the first time, no worries my friend.  It took me a few times to get the hang of the avocado game.  Just keep practicing – you’ll be a pro in no time!

No Ripe Avocados Around?

Put unripe avocados in a closed paper bag with a few bananas.  As the bananas ripen, they let off ethylene gas.  This gas speeds up the ripening of the avocados!

Fun Avocado Facts

  • An avocado is a fruit. (Poor avocados and tomatoes… so misunderstood)
  • Avocados are full of water – 74% water!
  • Avocados are packed with fiber – One small avocado contains 10 grams of fiber.  This is 1/3 of women’s daily needs, and 1/4 of men’s!
  • Avocados contain more potassium than bananas.

Be sure to be sure to follow me on Instagram  @plateandcanvas  for more recipes, nutrition tips, and lots and lots of avo.

 
 – Taylor

Continue Reading

PCOS snacks dietitian
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 25 Mar, 2024
Taylor Stolt, Functional Medicine Dietitian and women’s health expert shares her twenty favorite snacks for PCOS, plus answers commonly asked snacking and PCOS questions
The Top 7 Ways to Improve Your Gut Health for Healthy Hormones
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 20 Mar, 2024
Discover the seven ways to improve your gut health and rebalance your hormones, according to a Registered Dietitian, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, and women's health expert.
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 01 Feb, 2024
Fifteen years ago, my digestive issues sparked my interest in gut health. I was amazed that there were thousands of research studies showing connections between our gut and the health of our immune system, our skin, our brain, and more. I was even more amazed that no one was talking about it! Now gut health is a hot topic, and I’m glad. Our gut health is at an all-time low because of antibiotics, processed food, high stress levels, pesticides, antibacterial soaps, and other gut damaging factors that are so prevalent in the modern world. If you’re unsure about your own gut health, start by asking yourself these three important questions.
Best Teas for Hormone Balance
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 25 Jan, 2024
Our expert guide on the best teas for hormone balance. From lemon balm's stress relieving properties to red clover's menopause relief, learn how this Registered Dietitian's top 10 teas, backed by science and research, can help with a holistic approach to balancing your hormones.
Your Gut Health and Hormones: 7 Ways They're Connected
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 19 Jan, 2024
Discover the seven ways your gut health is connected to your hormones. Unravel how gut issues like gut inflammation, imbalanced gut bacteria, and constipation affect hormone balance.
The Grain-Free Pumpkin Bars You Need this Holiday Season
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 16 Nov, 2023
I absolutely love cooking, but baking is something I rarely do. When I do decide to bake my goal is to make something delicious, with simple steps and minimal clean-up. Any time I'm in the kitchen I want it to be as relaxing as possible, especially around the Holidays. I created this pumpkin bar recipe years ago, but I come back to it again and again. You can quickly mix up these healthy pumpkin bars for a Thanksgiving dinner, Friendsgiving gathering, or sweet treat for yourself. But first - Is pumpkin a Fall fad or is it a healthy addition to our Fall recipes? Is pumpkin actually healthy? Here are some pumpkin nutrition highlights: Full of fiber: Fiber keeps you full, stabilizes blood sugars, supports estrogen metabolism, and regulates digestion. Loaded with vitamin A : One cup of pumpkin contains 245% of the daily recommended amount! Vitamin A prevents collagen breakdown (aka less wrinkles), supports thyroid function, increases iron absorption , and enhances the positive effects of vitamin D. Mineral-rich: Pumpkin is a rich source of magnesium, manganese, copper, phosphorus, zinc and iron. These minerals support energy production, promote hormone balance, keep your immune system in tip-top shape, and more. No, It’s not always healthy Yes, pumpkin is healthy. BUT don’t grab a slice of pumpkin bread and assume it’s automatically healthy. A slice of pumpkin bread from Starbucks has 40 grams of sugar.
Hormone Balance Supplements: A Dietitian's Top Ten Picks
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 15 Nov, 2023
Functional Medicine Dietitian and women's health expert Taylor Stolt shares her favorite hormone balancing supplements.
5-Ingredient Carrot Ginger Soup
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 12 Nov, 2023
Loaded with antioxidants, lots of vitamin A, fiber to keep you full, fat to keep blood sugars stable, and ginger to fight inflammation.
best Estrogen Dominance Diet
By Taylor Stolt, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP 09 Nov, 2023
Learn how to reverse estrogen dominance naturally. Award-winning Functional Medicine Dietitian Taylor Stolt shares the best diet for estrogen dominance.
Does Seed Cycling Actually Work?
By Taylor Stolt 20 Oct, 2023
Learn why everyone's talking about seed cycling, the science behind the claims, and why you should second guess this approach to rebalance your hormones.
More Posts
Share by: