The avocado game this summer was super strong. Everywhere you turned, people were putting avocados and guacamole on everything. Avocados offer a healthy alternative to the fatty and oily foods we often load up our diets with. While the summer is over, there are still a few weeks left of prime time for this seasonal fruit. Looking to get your last fix in before squash is in full swing? Check out these 4 quick, easy, healthy recipes.

1. Avocado Pesto

Ingredients:

• 1 whole avocado
• 2 cups of fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic
• ¼ cup grated parmigiano cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

For me, being in college meant making the most of the space and appliance I had. When I first moved away to school, I bought a NutriBullet to make my smoothies, juices, sauce, soups, and dips, which basically means I use it for everything all of the time. Simple steps: put all ingredients into the Bullet (or whatever blending device you have) and blend until smooth and creamy. The consistency should be a little creamier than traditional pesto because the avocado adds the texturey goodness and healthy fat that you don’t get from using olive oil. Be sure to taste the mixture and adjust as you see fit, but once you have the perfect pesto, serve over warm pasta and enjoy!

Extra tip: toss in some fresh diced tomatoes and toasted pine nuts for added flavor and color

2. Avocado Egg Salad

I’ve been on a bit of an egg salad kick but am not a huge fan of the mayo. In natural healthy alternative fashion, I first discovered that Greek yogurt makes for a great taste and texture. But, of course, avocados are the food of the year so I had to try my hand at this option.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole avocado
• 2 hard boiled eggs
• 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add eggs and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat for 7 minutes. Drain the eggs and let soak in cold water until cool. Peel the eggs and break up into a small mixing bowl. Dice the avocado in the shell and scoop into the mixing bowl to combine with eggs. Add brown mustard and mix until desired consistency is reached. Add salt, red or black pepper to taste. Enjoy on multigrain toast, a whole wheat wrap, or reduced fat Triscuits.

3. Avocado Toast

There are tons of varieties of this increasingly popular snack, but the most important thing to note is that it’s healthy! The best thing to do find your favorite multigrain toast, a fresh avocado, and another vegetable or two, and you’ll be on your way. Check out a few of these recipes for ideas to get you started!

• Ingredients:
  • 2 pieces of toast
  • ½ avocado
  • ¼ diced tomato
  • 2 tablespoons diced onion
  • Cilantro to taste
  • ½ lime worth of juice
  • Cracked black pepper and sea salt

Ingredients:

• 2 pieces of toast
• ½ avocado
• 4 slices tomato
• Lemon zest
• Cracked black pepper and sea salt

Smash avocado onto toast. Lay 2 slices of tomato on each slice of bread. Zest lemon on top and add salt and pepper to taste.

Mix diced, tomato, onion, and cilantro in a bowl. Smash the avocado onto the multigrain and add the tomato mixture on top. Finish with a squeeze of lime juice and salt and pepper to taste.

4. Green Smoothie

• 1 whole avocado
• ½ cup mango
• ½ cup pinapple
• ½ cup strawberries
• 4 oz almond milk
• 12 oz ice

Green smoothies are super in right now. We all love our fruit smoothies, but sometimes its hard to get our veggies in. Spinach and kale make for great greens for vitamins and protein, but the avocado adds a

Ingredients:

Blend all ingredients once again in your handy Bulllet and enjoy for any meal or snack of the day!

So hit up the produce market and get your green on one last time this season!