Avocado Time

At an early age, I remember being somewhat confused by the concept of the avocado being a fruit and not a vegetable. Later on, I was again somewhat confused by whether this rich, textured, and odd-flavored fruit was really good for us. After all, for a fruit, it contains a lot of fat and is high in calories.

So what is the truth about the odd avocado, which is grown primarily in southern California and is also known as the alligator pear because of its shape and green skin?

Avocados are actually free of sodium and cholesterol, but they do have five grams of fat per serving. One serving - about one-fifth of an avocado - contains around 55 calories. While avocados can be a source of fat, they only provide one gram of saturated fat per serving, are trans fat free, and offer mostly mono- and polyunsaturated fats. In addition, avocados are a rich source of at least 25 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, vitamin E, the B vitamins, and folic acid.

Given the fact that this fruit may add unwanted fat to your menu, should a healthy diet make any room for it? The experts say yes - which is great because the avocado's creamy taste and appealing texture make it a good substitute for mayonnaise and high-fat dressings in a sandwich. Or mashed up, it produces a delicious sauce or dip that's lower in saturated fat than comparable condiments.