Quick! Name the two special event days in the United States that result in the greatest amount of annual guacamole consumption.

Yep, Cinco de Mayo is a no brainer, and if you’re paying any kind of attention to the sports news this week, then you can easily guess the other: Super Bowl Sunday.

The good news is that there’s plenty of medical and nutritional evidence to rationalize calling guacamole a health food. One article I recently read said that an avocado a day can help to lower both your “bad” LDL cholesterol and your triglycerides.

This was the conclusion drawn by researchers at Pennsylvania State University. They analyzed the effect of avocados on cardiovascular risk factors by replacing saturated fatty acids from an average American diet with unsaturated fatty acids from avocados.

But just how do you work more avocados into your daily diet? I’m glad you asked!

Avocados can be added to sandwiches, salads, or smoothies. Guacamole can be used as a spread or dip in place of fatty mayonnaise or sour cream. And avocado oil is a fabulous addition to flavor when used for stir frying.

So you can feel guilt-free when you enjoy your guacamole during the Big Game tomorrow… Just remember— you have to skip the chips! Total blasphemy!

GO SEAHAWKS!!