Skip to main content

You Can Blame the Keto Diet for Those Expensive Avocados


miami beach personal chef


Don't point fingers at the rising popularity of avocado toast; high-fat, low-carb diets are the culprit for the avocado price hike.
ASHLEY MATEO 
February 27, 2019
It wasn't long ago that some Australian billionaire was blaming millennials' obsession with avocado toast for their financial woes. And, listen, there's nothing wrong with dropping $19 if you have it for smashed avocado on bread for that brunch 'gram.
But if you're just trying to eat healthily and maybe lose some weight, you're probably dealing with sticker shock every time you hit the supermarket for fresh produce. Turns out keto dieters—along with other high-fat, low-carb devotees—have driven up the average price of high-fat foods like avocados, butter, olive oil, and salmon by as much as 60 percent in the past six years, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. (The price of starches like corn, soybeans, and wheat has pretty much remained the same or dropped.)
The keto diet calls for 70 percent of calories to come from healthy fats, 20 percent from protein, and only 10 percent from carbs. Keto dieters love avocados because they're full of monounsaturated fats, or "healthy" fats, which can decrease the risk for heart disease and help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, K, D, and E. Plus, an average-size avocado has 227 calories, and 20 grams of fat, which is about 188 calories of fat per avocado, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. If you're on keto and consuming 2,000 calories a day, 70 percent—or 1,400—of those calories should come from healthy fats. You can’t get *all* those calories from avocados; you'd need to eat more than 7 a day.
But people are eating more than ever before, and as demand for these healthy fats has increased, land availability, growing seasons, and environmental concerns have kept manufacturers from going HAM on providing more products. Naturally, that's driven the market price up.
But, listen, relying only on avocados for your healthy fats is pretty lazy at this point. There are so many other healthy high-fat keto foods you can turn to instead of avocados: full-fat Greek yogurt, macadamia nuts, virgin coconut oil, cream cheese and tuna, bacon, algae, eggs, and grass-fed steak are just a few.
Plus, avocados are the least reliable healthy food in the supermarket. In November 2018, issues between avocado growers and packing and distribution companies in Michoacán, Mexico's top avocado-producing state, caused avocado shipments to drop by 88 percent. And experts warned of another shortage right before this year's Super Bowl, due to a fuel shortage in Mexico that had workers struggling to harvest the 120,000 tons of avocados that growers were hoping to ship to the U.S. That caused prices of avocado in 2018 to jump nearly $20 per carton.
Fact: It's not always cheap to eat healthily. But if you're really trying to follow one of these trendy diets, it's not just about choosing the obvious option (cough, pricey avocado smoothie) in order to stick to the parameters. You should alwaysdo your research before going all in on a restrictive diet like keto (Jillian Michaels hates it because it nearly eliminates an entire macronutrient group) because as popular as it is, it might not be the healthiest choice for you. And if you can't afford to stick to keto 100 percent, there are still healthy eating rules you can take from it.
Just remember that as great as avocados are, they're just one food. And healthy fats are just one part of a healthy balanced diet. If you can't bring yourself to drop $5 per piece of fruit, that's OK—there are plenty other options in the grocery store that won't break the bank.
personal chefs and event catering
Miami + Miami Beach + Fort Lauderdale + Palm Beach

info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232)

Popular posts from this blog

Batard from Baking with Julia (Chef Danielle Forestier) Recipe

So many people have asked us for an "Authentic" baguette/batard recipe. Here is a GREAT one that was presented on "Baking with Julia". We cut the recipe in ha lf to make 2 loaves. One was slice in the traditional fashion the other we left plain to show how it "explodes" if you do not. Batard from Baking with Julia (Chef Danielle Forestier) Batard are made from the same ingredients as baguettes. The only difference is the length of the finished product. Both the baguette and the batard weigh 250g or 8.8 ounces. It is the law in France you can NOT use any ingredients except flour, water, yeast and salt and that you must wait 20 minutes before selling the bread after baking. Makes 3-4 loaves 5 cups bread flour 2 cups cool water (about 78 F) One .6-ounce/17g cube compressed (fresh) yeast 2 1/2 teaspoons salt Mound flour on a smooth work surface and make a well in the center. A little at a time, pour water into the well. Use fingertips to draw i...

Do you Remember Herman? Sourdough Starter and Recipe

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Amish friendship bread, as well as an interchangeable starter referred to as Herman (the name varies), became a popular exchange among friends who shared the starter as well as recipes. Herman Starter Preparation time: 10 minutes Standing time: 5 days Yield: 4 cups 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup warm water 2 packages (2 1/4 teaspoons each) active dry yeast 2 cups each: milk, flour 1. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the warm water. Sprinkle yeast over mixture; set aside until doubled in volume, about 10 minutes. 2. Combine milk, flour, remaining sugar and yeast mixture in a plastic or glass container. (Do not use metal.) Stir with a wooden spoon; cover loosely. Set aside at room temperature, at least 8 hours. 3. Stir mixture once a day for three days. On the fourth day, measure out 1 cup of Herman for baking; measure 1 additional cup to give to a friend as a gift. To replenish starter: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1...

The History of Aluminum Foil: Just Don't Call it Tin Foil

Gerard Paul  September 11th, 2020  Cookware ,   Grilling & Outdoors   Aluminum foil – sometimes incorrectly called  tin foil  – is a thin, prepared sheet metal made of aluminum, often used in cooking (and food storage!). Although it may seem a little  dull  at first glance (especially on its dull side), aluminum foil has quite a fascinating story behind it. Many incredible things occurred before it became a staple in the modern kitchen. In this post, I'll discuss the various events that led to the aluminum foil revolution, and highlight the continued importance of this seemingly mundane material in our lives.  Aluminum Foil What Is Aluminum Foil? Aluminum foil is a thin sheet of  metal foil  or  metal leaf  composed of an  aluminum alloy  containing roughly 92–99 percent aluminum. It usually has a thickness between 0.0002 to 0.006 inches, but its width and strength vary greatly based on the intended applicati...

Homemade Turkey Ham Recipe

Making your own cured turkey “ham”, is not only healthier, but in our opinion much tastier.  It will be much lower in sodium and be preservative free.  You are going to use turkey in 3 different forms. Cubed, minced and pureed.  This will give it a more “ham” like texture. Start with 2 pounds 10.5 ounces of skin off deboned turkey thigh meat Cubed Turkey 14 ounces/400 grams turkey meat, cut into cubes  1 teaspoon/4 grams salt 1/4  teaspoon/1 grams curing salt Minced/Ground Turkey (if you use pre minced make sure it’s thigh meat) 14 ounces/400 grams turkey meat 1 teaspoon/4 grams salt 1/2 teaspoon/2 grams curing salt  2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons/40mls water For The Puree 10.5 ounces/300 grams turkey meat 4 teaspoons/20mls water 1/2 teaspoon/2mls garlic powder   1 teaspoon/4 grams salt 1/2 teaspoon/2 grams curing salt  1 large egg white 2 teaspoons/10ml liquid smoke 1/2 tablespoon/2 grams smoked paprika  Trim the turkey if not trimmed alread...

Braised Lettuce (Laitues Braises): A Take On Julia Child’s Recipe

You can use almost any lettuce, such as chicory, or frisee, or Boston Bib if you are busing large heads, cut them in half. We made these pescartarian because of the shrimp stock, but vegan is easy with vegetable stock, or if serving with beef, a  beef stock and bacon. Braised lettuce is a delicious garnish for poultry, white meats such as veal or pork, or steamed white fish. It can be the main accompanied by a warm sweet potato salad. Serves 4 4 heads Romaine lettuce hearts  4 thick slices of bacon (if making not vegetarian or vegan), cut into lardon strips 1 small onion , diced 2 carrots, diced 1 tablespoon/15g plus 1/2 tablespoon/7 butter divided  1 teaspoon/5ml olive oil 1/2 cup/125ml shrimp or seafood stock (see notes above) 1/2 cup/125ml cup white wine or dry white vermouth bouquet garni: 1 parsley branch, 1 branch of thyme,1  bay leaf tied to a cheesecloth ½ tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon parsley Trim stems of lettuce and ...

9 Wonderful Benefits Of Pistachios

The health benefits of pistachios include a  healthy heart , weight management, protection against  diabetes  and hypertension, and improved  digestion . The  vitamins ,  minerals , fats, and protein found in pistachio are all good for health. What Are Pistachios? Pistachios are one of the oldest edible  nuts  and are commonly used all over the world. They are native to Asia, particularly Iran and Iraq. Archaeological evidence  dates  the association of pistachios and man as early as 6,000 BC. They were cultivated in Iran, Iraq, and Syria and were introduced to the Romans only in 100 AD. Today, apart from Iran, Iraq, and Syria, pistachios are being produced in many countries such as the United States, Australia, Turkey, and China, among others. Pistachio nuts belong to the  Anacardiaceae  family from the genus  Pistacia . A pistachio tree takes about 10 to 12 years to produce the first crop. They are d...

Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef) Recipe

  A c lassic Cuban dish, and one of the most popular. In spanish, the translation is means "old clothes", because the chuck roast is shredded until it resembles old rags of clothes. It is traditionally served with white rice . Serves 6 3 pound/1.35kg chuck roast 1 small onion (sliced) 2 tablespoons/30ml olive oil 1 cup/240ml red dry wine 1 large onion, finely diced 2 garlic cloves (minced) 1 green bell pepper (chopped) 4 large ripe tomatoes (chopped) 2 tablespoons/30ml tomato paste 1 1/2 tablespoons/22ml ground cumin 1 bay leaf salt and pepper to taste Directions: Salt and pepper the chuck roast and lightly brown the meat in cooking oil in a large pot. Add 2 cups of water or enough to surround but not cover the meat. Add the small onion and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and allow to simmer for approximately 1 1/2 hours. Note the meat should be tender after this time, if not continue to simmer until it is. Remove from heat and let it cool. Shred the be...

Eat Your Vegetables - They Are Good For You

There's no question that eating three to five servings of fruits and vegetables daily will improve your health. But more and more experts are saying healthy eat ing is not only about how many servings you eat. It's about the variety you pick, too. Eat a diet of solely white foods, and you'll miss key nutrients your body needs—even if your palette includes cauliflower, onions, and mushrooms. Adding a multivitamin doesn't cut it either. "People will say, 'I'm taking a multivitamin, so I don't really need to eat these,' " says Karin Hosenfeld, RD, LD, a dietitian in private practice in Dallas, but she says scientists don't know whether whole foods may offer undiscovered benefits that vitamins don't. "We do know for sure that if you don't eat your fruits and vegetables, you're not getting your fiber, and that's [helping keep] your blood sugar down." Every one of your meals doesn't have to be multicolored...

Jacques Pepin's Flatbread Recipe

I saw Chef Pepin make this on one of his shows, and thought, that is almost like the bread I used to make when I lived on the Beach in St. Augustine Florida and I had no yeast. I called it a cheat pizza dough, and I added tons of granulated garlic. Serves 6 1 1⁄2 cups/188g regular all purpose flour 1 cup/250ml water 1⁄4 teaspoon/2ml baking powder 1⁄4 teaspoon/2ml salt 2 tablespoons/30ml olive oil 2 tablespoons/30ml water Dump everything (except the 2 tablespoons water) into a bowl and "stir it into a gooey stuff" as Jacques says. The dough will indeed be very wet, gooey, sticky. Stir in any optional ingredients. Heat a non-stick 10" / 25.4 cm skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil into the pan and then pour in the dough. Spread into one flat layer with a spoon or spatula. (A little oil on the spoon or spatula helps keep the dough from sticking to it.) Add remaining  water around the outside of the dough where it meets the pan; the o...

Chicken Provencal Recipe

Rich flavours and a hearty sauce will make everyone think you have been cooking for hours. Bone in chicken has more flavor and is the classic way to make this dish, but feel free to use a boneless piece. Serves 4 2 pounds/900g chicken leg quarters 1 teaspoon/5ml sea salt 1/2 teaspoon/2ml black pepper 1/3 cup/90ml olive oil 1/2 cup/125 dry white wine 2 medium onions chopped 1 clove garlic minced 8 ounces/225g baby bella mushrooms sliced 1/2 cup/125ml pureed tomatoes 2 tablespoons/30ml chopped parsley Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Thoroughly wash and pat dry the chicken and season with salt and pepper liberally on all sides. Brown chicken 4-5 minutes on both sides. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1/4 cup of the wine. Cook chicken for 10-12 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, and 1/2 of the parsley cook for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Remove the chicken to a serving platter and add r...