My go-to to breakfast is half an avocado and scrambled eggs. The problem is I often waste the other half of the avocado because it gets brown and nasty overnight, even if you do all those hacks like keeping the pit in, spritzing with lemon, and wrapping in plastic.
So you can imagine my joy when I spotted a six-pack of Teeny Tiny Avocados at Trader Joe’s. These fiber- and protein-packed orbs are about half the size of a traditional avocado and at 160-calories are the perfect single-serving size. As a reminder, avocados are also a great source of heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats and potassium.
Each babycado contains 15 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of protein. A six-pack costs from $2.69 to $2.99 depending on where you live. You can also find them at some farmer’s markets.
Although they’re labelled Teeny Tiny Avocados, they’re actually just regular California Haas avocados that never reach full size because of poor weather conditions.
They first burst on the scene in 2016 and gained Instagram notoriety during the peak of avocado-toast craze. They come back on shelves whenever growing conditions are not optimal.
Expect the same creamy, nutty taste as a regular avocado and similar texture. The seed-to-flesh ratio is about the same. Although in my experience, the flesh is a little firmer and more ripens more uniformly. Pro tip: Store uncut avocados in the fridge to slow down the ripening process.
Here are three ways to work the tiny avocado into your eating plan:
Avo Scramble
An easy to prepare and delicious 430-calorie breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Make it: Scramble three eggs and serve with a sliced tiny avocado seasoned with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Avo Toast (recipe from Jillian Michaels)
The whole-grain toast supplies carbohydrates to give you energy to start your day, while the creamy avocado fills you up and helps you stay satiated until mid-morning. To add protein, top it with a poached egg.
Make it: Toast two slices whole grain bread. Mash half a tiny avocado on top of each slice. Sprinkle on 1/2-tsp of chia seeds and a pinch of red pepper flakes over the toast. Finish off with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
The Green Beast Smoothie (recipe from Men’s Health Guy Gourmet)
It skips the kale in favorite of spinach, which is loaded with the good stuff, but more subtle in flavor. Fresh green grapes balance out the bite with natural sweetness. Avocado lends creaminess and the lime will shake your taste buds awake. Plus, it contains a kick of caffeine from the bottled green tea—but not so much that you’ll suffer a crash four hours later. It contains 230 calories and 12 grams of protein.
Make it: Blend till smooth: 2 cups baby spinach, 15 green grapes, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup lightly sweetened bottled green tea (like Honest Tea Honey Green Tea), 1 tiny avocado, the juice of 1/2 lime, and 1 tsp agave nectar or honey (optional).
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