Avocados, the epitome of luxury in the world of fruit! Creamy, rich, and subtly flavoured, these green gems are the perfect addition to any meal, any time of day.

These versatile fruits can be mashed, diced, sliced, or puréed to create or complement a variety of dishes, from guacamole to salads, pizza toppings to sandwich fillings, and even ice cream. They’re the ultimate companion for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, and also perfect for on-the-go snacks. And the best part? No prep time required! Avocados are quick, easy, and convenient to incorporate into any dish.

Whether you prefer green-skinned or dark-skinned avocados, rest assured they are equally delicious and nutritious. Just remember, green-skinned avos stay green when ripe, while dark-skinned avos turn purple-black when ripe.

With avocados available almost all year-round in South Africa, there’s no excuse not to indulge in these nutrient-packed treasures. So go ahead, add an avo to your healthy eating plan and enjoy the creamy goodness! 

Looking for additional reasons to add an avo to your diet? Consider these facts because they are all:

• High in energy
• High in heart healthy fats
• High in vitamin K
• High in biotin
• Cholesterol free
• Sodium free
• A source of fibre

Avocados can form part of a successful energy-controlled diet for weight management. The healthy monounsaturated fats found in avocados give a feeling of fullness, which reduces the temptation to overeat or binge on less healthy foods.

For further information and avo recipes, visit www.avocado.co.za, like @iloveavocadoSA on Facebook and follow @iloveavosSA on Instagram.

The post Here’s why you need more avocados in your life appeared first on MyKitchen.

Before or after a tough work-out, when you’re feeling peckish at work or simply craving something sweet, these delicious chocolately nut-butter protein bites are your go-to snacks!

MAKES 16 // COOKING TIME 40 min

INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp cacao powder, sifted
100 g whey protein powder
6 tbsp unsweetened peanut butter
¼ cup raw honey
2 tbsp chia seeds
Sea salt flakes, to sprinkle

METHOD
1. In a bowl, mix together the cacao, whey powder, peanut butter, honey and chia seeds. Place in the fridge and allow the mixture to firm up for about 30 minutes.
2. On a clean surface, roll out the mixture to 1½ cm thickness. Portion into 2 × 2 cm squares.
3. Sprinkle each square with a pinch of salt. Store in the fridge.

Recipe & styling: Luisa Farelo
Photography: Kendall-Leigh Nash // HMimages.co.za

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There’s nothing like some deliciously sweet and energy-boosting date balls to give you that midday boost. We love this recipe with cacao, banana and macadamia nuts!

MAKES 18 // COOKING TIME 30 min

INGREDIENTS
200 g macadamia nuts
125 g pitted dates
2 tbsp cacao powder, sifted
1 ripe banana
½ cup medium desiccated coconut, plus extra for coating
½ tsp salt

METHOD
1. In a food processor, blend the macadamia nuts to a fine crumb, then transfer to a mixing bowl.
2. In the food processor, blend the dates, cacao and banana to a fine paste. Add the date mixture to the nuts and mix together until it reaches a dough-like consistency.
3. Add the coconut and salt to the mixture, and mix together thoroughly.
4. Divide the mixture evenly and roll into bite-sized balls. Roll in the extra desiccated coconut and refrigerate.

Recipe & styling: Luisa Farelo
Photography: Kendall-Leigh Nash // HMimages.co.za

The post Energy-boosting date balls with cacao and banana appeared first on MyKitchen.

Looking for a healthy breakfast or work lunch snack? These soft-boiled egg, avocado and tomato rice-cake stacks are the perfect pick-me-ups for those weekday slumps.

SERVES 2 // COOKING TIME 15 min

INGREDIENTS
2 eggs, soft-boiled
4 rice cakes
¼ cup cream cheese
1 avocado, sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced

METHOD
1. Cut the eggs in half.
2. Spread each rice cake with cream cheese.
3. Top with avocado, tomato and egg.
4. Season with salt, pepper and chilli sauce.

Recipe & styling: Amerae Vercueil
Photography: Andreas Eiselen // HMimages.co.za

The post Soft-boiled egg, avocado and tomato rice-cake stacks appeared first on MyKitchen.

MyKitchen editor Heather has a major sweet tooth, so she makes these delicious oat energy balls to get her healthy fill during the week! They’re also great snacks for a little pick-me-up or gym boost.

INGREDIENTS
1½ tbsp coconut oil
¾ cup peanut butter
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup oats
2 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp vanilla essence

METHOD
1. Pulse oats and coconut in a food processor.
2. Using a wooden spoon, spatula or your hands, combine everything in a bowl.
3. Roll into balls. Store in the fridge.

The post Heather’s oat energy balls appeared first on MyKitchen.