Healthy Eats: Avocado Quesadillas with Aguacates Frescos

By: Paulina Lopez

School is back in session, which means I’m busier than ever and with little time to think about what to make for dinner. However, good health is invaluable and I want to be more proactive about the health of my family so I’m always on the lookout for resources that can help me. That’s why I’m excited about our partnership with Aguacates Frescos - Saborea Uno Hoy®, because it helps families learn how delicious fresh avocados support healthy eating patterns that can help minimize the risk of chronic diseases. 

Additionally, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend healthy eating patterns to minimize the risk of chronic diseases. Unfortunately, adherence to the guidelines among all Americans is low, with added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium exceeding suggested limits and even higher among Hispanic Americans. 

This is why when I’m looking for a healthy meal that still delivers on flavor and texture, I turn to recipes with fresh avocado. The American Heart Association recommends eating a variety of nutritious foods from all food groups. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables may help people control their weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Avocados are a healthy, nutrient-dense food that can help boost fruit intake. 

Maybe you grew up thinking that there is little we can do to change our health status? Actually, there is a lot that proactive lifestyle changes can do so listen up and don’t leave health to chance. 

And I love that fresh avocados can help make it easy for us to make healthier decisions! Did you know that one-third of a medium avocado (50 grams) has 80 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, making it a healthy, nutrient-dense food choice? After taste-testing some of the most delicious avocado recipes from SaboreaUnoHoy.com, we landed on the perfect recipe for family dinner time – an avocado, bean and cheese quesadilla. This meal has become such a hit in our house, and we often pair it with a family game night handout also available on their website. This Lotería-inspired activity is educational and fun, and will motivate you and your loved ones to take control of your health together. 

Want to learn more about the latest research on this? Check out our Interview with Malena Perdomo, a registered dietitian and Avocado Goodness Expert for Aguacates Frescos - Saborea Uno Hoy® to dig in more! One study supported by the Avocado Nutrition Center explored how including fresh avocados in a nutrition education intervention can support weight management while reducing the overconsumption of saturated fat and sodium for Hispanic families. Though, as with all studies there are limitations that prevent the generalization of the findings, this was encouraging news. The results support including fresh avocados – a food we all love and enjoy - in nutrition education can support weight management while reducing the overconsumption of saturated fat and sodium for Hispanic families.

Check out our reel on Instagram for a step-by-step video on how to make this amazing recipe.

Avocado, Bean & Cheese Quesadilla with Avocado Crema

Step By Step Video- IG Reel

Download the Family Game Night Starring Fresh Avocados Handout Here! Loteria Game

Visit SaboreaUnoHoy.com to download the handout, as well as other resources like easy and delicious recipes and how-to tips, among other things.  

Easy Banana Bread Recipe

You asked and we answered! A few nights ago on the @supermamas Instagram Story (give us a follow 😉), Paulina shared some videos of herself baking. She was making a recipe that Bricia has shared with the family for years - Banana Bread via the New York Times cooking section. This recipe is so easy and so good, every single person in our family makes it whenever there are ripe bananas in the house.

Will you be making this during our social distancing? Snap a pic and tag us on Instagram!

NYT Banana Bread

Makes 1 loaf. Total time is 1 hour 15 minutes.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE BREAD

• ¼ pound cool butter (1 stick), more for greasing pan

• ¾ cup dark brown sugar

• 2 eggs, at room temperature

• 2 ⅓ cups very ripe bananas (about 5)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon salt

FOR THE TOPPING

• 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans

• 1 tablespoon granulated or coarse sugar

• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Using electric mixer, cream butter until smooth and fluffy. Add sugar and cream together 2 minutes more. One at a time, mix in eggs. Mix in bananas until only small lumps remain.

2. Stir dry ingredients together and mix into banana mixture just until combined. Pour into prepared pan. If making topping, stir ingredients together and sprinkle over batter.

3. Bake about 55 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack and let cool completely before wrapping tightly for storage.

Have you been cooking and baking during your time at home? Share your favorite recipes below!

Complete recipe available via cooking.newyorktimes.com.